A school saw weeks of planning pay off as it paid tribute to fallen soldiers as part of a Remembrance Day service.

Seahaven Academy in Newhaven made Poppy Day a vital part of youngsters’ education and held a series of assemblies based on ‘what we remember and how we show respect’.

Assistant headteacher Johnie Davies said: “It has been really moving to see the students engaged with these issues.

“Remembrance has been brought closer to home this year and the students see the past as something which still has an impact on them in the present.”

Primary school pupils visited the school to work with older students on a creative writing exercise on the issues of remembrance.

The School Council and prefects paid their respects on behalf of Seahaven as they laid a wreath at Newhaven Memorial on Sunday.

In the run-up, youngsters were involved in a number of World War One related exercises.

An Extended Learning Day looking at local history from the First World War took place and students working on creative writing through poems and letters from the trenches as well as creating acrylic poppies and wreaths.

Year 7 created a First World War performance piece and the School Council discussed how the school should mark the centenary.

They chose to do an installation in which each member of the school had their own poppy on which they wrote down who they would be remembering on the day.

They will be put on display for the year.

During the half term, students were able to research the archives for members of their family who died in the war.

Several students found the graves of members of their family and were able to lay tributes.

One student said: “I couldn’t believe it when I found the grave of my great uncle.

“I had always heard about him, but somehow it became real just being there. It was really moving.”