AN Olympic theme brought colour, culture and an international focus to a multi-schools programme.

Furness Academy in Barrow has used this summer's Rio Olympics as a theme for a primary to secondary transition project.

Year five pupils from Barrow primary schools have been visiting the secondary school to learn about the Olympic values and how they can be used in daily life in the personal development department.

In modern foreign languages the juniors have also been learning Portuguese, the language spoken in the host country, Brazil.

The sessions have been building towards a celebration event today at Furness Academy which will replicate a mini Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Each school is representing an Olympic nation. They will dress in the colours of that country and some pupils will have their faces painted.

They will carry flags of their adopted countries around the academy's athletics track.

The children will then compete in a series of track and field events representing the countries.

During the preparation event the pupils have also been in the technology department making clackers - folded paper fans to make noise with at the opening ceremony.

They have also been in the art department paint the Rio Olympic mascots and posters to decorate our track for the big event.

Furness Academy was today also holding a prize ceremony to present medals to the winners.

St James' CE Juniors are representing Australia at the event.

In a sport project at school they had already started learning about the host country Brazil and Greece.

Speaking ahead of today, Liam Reid, a teacher at St James' CE Juniors, said: "The pupils are really excited about the opening ceremony.

"It's a transition event like no other. Furness Academy has put on a great show of activities. The pupils have loved it, they really enjoyed learning Portuguese."

The schools involved are Yarlside Academy, St Paul's CE Junior School, Dane Ghyll CE Primary School, Victoria Academy, Cambridge Primary School, Roose School, Barrow Island Primary School, North Walney Primary School, Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School, Greengate Junior School, St James’ CE Primary School, Newbarns Primary School and St George's CE Primary School.