Schoolchildren have gone wild in a week learning about how to save the planet.

Pupils from Grafton Primary in Grafton Road, Dagenham, dressed as animals including polar bears and tigers during five days exploring green issues and children’s rights.

Headteacher Martin Nicholson said: “The event was an amazing success for the school community and raised the profile of many of the issues discussed.”

Pupils learnt to appreciate what is on their plates too with a theatre show about avoiding food waste during the school’s annual Rights Respecting Week.

On the environment themed day, Iddanella Sarmiento said: “It was very successful. Parents were excited to see the work children had done.

“The main message was even the little things we do in our lives have an impact on the planet.”

She added some youngsters were shocked to learn animals could become extinct.

The school is hoping for official recognition of its rights teaching by aiming for a gold award from United Nations children’s agency UNICEF.