PUPILS at a school near Malvern were surprised to find some new friends waiting for them when the new school year began.

Pupils at The Downs returned on the first day of term this month to find seven quail chicks, brought in to help introduce them to caring for animals.

Quails are no strangers to The Downs Malvern and made the school their home earlier this year when new Headmaster Andy Nuttall joined.

Mr Nuttall, who moved to the area from Windlesham House School in West Sussex, has not only settled his own family into the local community, but also brought with him his own flock of chickens and quails.

The September hatchlings aren’t the first batch of quail chicks to delight the pupils.

In June the school’s boarding pupils enjoyed an afternoon of ‘quail time’, learning how they behave and creating the very best environment for them. 

The quails typically reside in the school’s grounds.

This term they will also have a smart, new, state-of-the-art chicken run that has been created, in part, from recycled materials and which is home to some rapidly growing Cream Legbar and Cuckoo Maran chicks.

During the summer holidays Mr Nuttall spent time transforming an old dog kennel into a new outdoor coop, complete with nest boxes. An indoor home for the birds was created using an old filing cabinet.

He said: "The children have immediately taken to the new additions to the school community and there is no shortage of volunteers who enjoy caring for both the chicken and quail chicks, as well as observing their engaging antics. 

"It is gratifying to see the children demonstrate their caring attitude as well as developing links to our rural setting.

"There are future plans to get them involved in the economics of producing, marketing and selling the eggs."

The new quails which hatched in September are currently being looked after in the atrium of the school’s Memo Hall.

When they are strong enough, they will be housed outside in the grounds where the children can feed and care for them.