A new BBC documentary about Stonehenge will be aired this week thanks to the strength of thirty pupils from a Dorset school.

When history teacher, John Greetham, asked thirty of his students from Cranborne Middle School if they wanted to pull a stone on a cold winter's day, they were slightly mystified by the idea.

But they all took up the opportunity immediately, once they knew they might be on television.

Professor Alice Roberts’ documentary Stonehenge: The Lost Circle Revealed is aired for the first time on BBC2 on Friday at 9pm and follows a decade-long historical quest to reveal a hidden secret of the famous bluestones of Stonehenge.

Putting together the final pieces of the puzzle, the team of archaeologists demonstrated how the stones could have been moved at Dorset’s Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne, where children receive a hands on experience of history.

Year 8 student Amelia said:“Re-enacting history always makes it more fun and helps us learn. It was brilliant to be involved in this project and seeing the trailer reminds us that we can’t wait to get back to school again.

“We visited Stonehenge in year 6. It is 4,500 years old, the same as the pyramid of Giza in Egypt. To be involved in a project like this and be on television is really exciting!”

Steve Warr, the programme’s Executive Producer added: “The pupils of Cranborne Middle School were a real delight and a credit to their teachers and parents. They can be proud of being a key part of our story which explains how Stonehenge came to exist.

“In a way that everyone can understand, their hard work shows how our prehistoric ancestors worked together to achieve something amazing.”

Headteacher Richard Stevens said:“As a school we are always looking at exciting ways to inspire and educate our pupils. We are very fortunate to live in such a fantastic part of the country where there are many unique opportunities for learning on our doorstep. Having studied Stonehenge in year 6, it was great for the children to have a chance to see and experience just how our Neolithic ancestors may have set up the monument thousands of years ago.”

The filming took place in December 2020, before the current lockdown and the children were all in the same bubble. A short clip can be seen at https://youtu.be/_9s12Jve1WM

Stonehenge: The Lost Circle Revealed is aired for the first time on BBC2 on Friday at 9pm. More details are available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000s5xm