Students at Malmesbury School are immersing themselves in events of 100 years ago, with projects to commemorate the start of the First World War.

They aim to create a permanent memorial in the school grounds by raising funds to buy four of the ceramic poppies from the Tower of London’s Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation.

Some have also been researching soldiers who died in the conflict and are listed on the school’s war memorial.

Others are involved in a contest for two places to visit war graves in France or Belgium.

Assistant headteacher Sarah Haines said: “There’s a lot of interest among students. They are particularly keen to create a special memorial in the school.”

Inspired by the Tower of London display of 888,246 ceramic poppies – one for each British soldier lost during the 1914-18 war – pupils are raising money to buy four at £25 each.

School council members will lead students in collecting coins to lay in the shape of poppies on November 7.

The new memorial would be created once the ceramic poppies have been acquired.

Year 9 has been investigating local casualties of the 1914-18 war. They have unearthed sad stories, such as the Newman brothers who died a week apart, one in Egypt and the other in Flanders.