School marries off minors to 'improve language'

The unusual nuptials were carried out in a Worcester parish church, with a vicar, registrar and parents watching it. A Mercedes car was donated to take the couple to church for the ceremony, which was followed by a full reception.

Pupils of Warndon Primary School Callie and Gethyn were joined in matrimony last week, Daily Mail reported. A week before the marriage, teachers took them and the rest of the Class 1 on a stag and hen night.

“The idea was that children will be able to write about their experiences, so having the wedding was perfect. They had to plan everything and then experience it as well,” school deputy head Sarah Allen was quoted as saying by the daily.

“I even had a five-year-old asking me about a fishtail dress design for the wedding dress. How about that for vocabulary? The children have been learning about everything from invitations to how to book a honeymoon.”

The wedding has got backing from the Worcestershire County, with Councillor Marcus Hart saying “It’s fantastic to see this kind of creativity in our schools. It gives the pupils an opportunity to experience something new... it stimulates their imaginations but expands their knowledge of language as well.”

Many activists said the marriage stunt was “crazy”. Nick Seaton said: “If children need to be taught to improve their writing, it should be through learning grammar, reading.”