Beacon Primary School held a special skipping day on Thursday 29th March. Picture by Alex Walton. Ref exe 7301-13-12AW. To order your copy of this photograph, go to www.exmouthjournal.co.uk and click on myphotos24

Skipping for fun and fitness was on the lesson plan at the Beacon Church of England Primary School.

Pupils were encouraged to skip school when the Beacon Church of England Primary School held a skipping day.

The youngsters were treated to a skipping workshop in a bid to teach co-ordination and fitness while having fun.

The pupils learned how to control a skipping rope while tackling the skills needed to navigate over the fast-moving equipment.

Skipping can be traced back for centuries. In the 1700s it was an activity predominately for boys.

This changed in the 1800s, when it was enjoyed by girls and boys.

The activity was later championed by girls and went on to become a playground favourite, where youngsters are often seen chanting rhymes showing off skills including long rope skipping, with two rope turners, and double Dutch – where the two ropes are turned in different directions.