A FAMILY of ducks have ruffled feathers at a local school after hatching in the school’s quadrangle.
Led by their mother, ten newly hatched ducklings have been seen wandering the corridors of the school and often take a lunchtime stroll in the staff room.
But teachers and pupils at The Boswell School, Chelmsford, are treating it as water off a duck’s back after embracing their feathered friends since their arrival last month.
The mother arrived at the school around a month ago to lay eggs in the grassy quadrangle in reeds by a wildlife pond.
Since the chicks hatched last weekend they have been inseparable as they follow their mother on adventures around the school grounds.
Assistant Headteacher, John Parsons, said: “This isn’t the first time we’ve had ducklings in the court yard but it really is a great novelty for the students and staff.
“In the recent hot weather the staff room door is left open and it’s now a regular occurrence seeing the ducklings wander in to join staff for lunch.
“When the ducklings are old enough our caretaker will look to move them from the courtyard and introduce them into the nearest river.”