AN exciting opportunity arose this year when Mr. Rose was approached by Nigel Gilbert, member and mainstay of the organisation, Historic Kidderminster.

Mr Gilbert, who has written three books on Kidderminster's history, asked if any of Wolverley's history students would be interested in taking part in a new project.

"For years, there has been speculation that the beautiful old church, St Mary's, is built on the site of an Anglo-Saxon monastery," explained Mr. Rose.

"But it was obviously impossible to excavate as St Mary's is still very much in use.

"However, a new technological procedure has been developed which means the sub strata can be investigated, to a significant depth, using non-invasive methods.

"Mr Gilbert wondered if our students would be interested in monitoring and recording the investigation.

" Needless, to say, our year nine students jumped at the chance!"

A group of archaeological experts, who work extensively with Channel 4's Time Team, expressed their interest and, with financial help from The National Lottery, the project went ahead - under the eagle eyes of ten of our keenest students who filmed the whole process and interviewed members of the team, the church warden and local historians.

Mr Rose and Mrs.Smith happily accompanied them (although Mr Rose was heard to complain bitterly about the wintry conditions. Mrs Smith was more stoical).

Back at school, the students edited their material and created an extremely professional DVD, with the help of Gary Watkins and Tim Burgess of Wolverley's ICT maintenance department, whose help, according to Mr Rose, was "invaluable."

Peter Valentine, one the students involved, was enthusiastic about the experience.

He said: "We learned how geo-physics machines are used to look under layers of earth without having to dig it up.

"Cross sections of each section could be seen on the screen and were examined by the archaeological experts."

Peter admitted that, to the untrained eye, the images on the screen meant very little but, once explained by an expert, "Everything became clear and we could actually make out the markings of the ancient monastery. It was really exciting as we could actually "see" the past coming alive!"

Another student, Emily Taylor, agreed.

"It was a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the history of Kidderminster, and it was great fun making the DVD," she said.

According to Mr Rose and Mrs Smith, the students made the most of their opportunity.

"It was lovely to see the pupils so actively engaged with the project," remarked Mrs. Smith.

"Taking them out of the classroom and onto the coalface, as it were, really opened their eyes to the fact that history is all around us, not confined to the pages of a text book."

Copies of the DVD can be bought either from Mr Rose or from St Mary's Church.

Priced £1, all proceeds will go to the church fund.