TEACHERS at Lydiard Park Academy put themselves forward for punishment in aid of charity yesterday as pupils queued to hurl pies in their faces.

The event was part of a week-long series of charity fundraising events in aid of the MS Society, CALM, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Swindon Special Care Baby Unit, The school’s four houses each selected a charity.

Ella Greenwood, the head girl of Holmes house, said: “We chose CALM as our charity of the year, which focuses on cancer and leukaemia.

“They came in and spoke to us, and at the end of last year a younger girl came in who had leukaemia and had being getting help from the charity.”

Hundreds of students were eager to pay their money to enter a raffle draw, which chose the lucky few to cover their teachers with cream.

“It is not often you get to see teachers in this kind of way,” said Ella.

“It changes the usual student teacher relationship for a little while. “We spend a lot of time with them, and we get to see a different side to them today. “I think all the teachers should be put up for it. It’s good to see the ones who volunteered, because it was going to be pretty embarrassing for them.”

Berners Lee House is supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust and head girl Ellie James said: “I remember having an assembly when a lady who came in who had cancer when she was a teenager. “It really affected all of us. When you are a teenager you don’t want to be put in a children’s ward, and they want to help teenagers who are put in that position.”

Simon Boxall, the head of the house system at Lydiard Park Academy, helped organise the week before volunteering to receive a cream pie.

“Our motto is about community, competition and charity,” he said. “This also fulfils part of the curriculum that is not around lessons, including citizenship. Most of the teachers volunteered straight away. The children usually see them just in the classroom, and this is about showing them a different side to us and helping the community in the process.

“The Swindon Special Baby Care Unit is particularly important to us because one of our head girls was cared for by them for quite a long time.”

Simon came in for special treatment, and was ambushed with multiple pies.

Euan Bouteiller of Year 11, was among those pelting the teachers with custard pies.

“It is a lot of fun and for a great cause,” he said.

“I managed to get two of them, Mr Godley and Mr Boxall. There was a set up behind Mr Boxall, and we got him from both sides.

“It is great that they are willing to do this. It is brilliant for the kids and for the charities.”

Head of year Kenley Thomas took a little convincing to volunteer.

“There was a little bit of arm-twisting,” he said. “It is great fun, and it makes the kids realise we can have fun.

“A lot of the time we can be quite serious, and we do have to deal with a lot of problems. It is so good for them to see we can have a bit of a laugh as well.”

More than 250 students from Lydiard Park Academy will be in supermarkets throughout the day tomorrow raising awareness for their charities. They will be at Asda West, Asda North, Sainsbury’s Stratton, Tesco Octal Way and the town centre Christmas market.