School was put under magical spell for the day

Children from Lancing College Preparatory School, in Worthing, were in for a magical treat last Tuesday as Lancing College invited young pupils to mix potions, experience an owl firsthand and explore the chapel.

At the open day, the independent boarding school’s houses were renamed Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Gryffindor.

On arrival, young pupils were assigned to a house and given a badge to wear.

In a spectacular display, each child received a letter from their parents, which were embellished with special Harry Potter stamps and delivered by real owls to the dining hall.

Lancing College arranged a fun-filled day of workshops, tours and sports to keep them entertained.

This included a potion master class with chemistry teacher Dr Simon Norris; an owl demonstration by specialists Owls about Town; and a visit to Lancing College Farm led by Hagrid’s brother, also known as Jon Hutcheon, the farm manager.

Pupils had a tour of the Lancing College Chapel by chaplain Father Richard, and discovered some of the carved animals hidden there.

They were also treated to an organ performance by director of chapel music Neil Cox.

The day became more hands on as pupils took part in a Golden Galleons Treasure Trail and a Quidditch championship, which was concluded with a grand final at the end of the day.

Parents were also invited to enjoy afternoon tea and watch the spectacular Quidditch final.