It's not every day you get a fluffy – or feathery – visitor during the school day – but pupils at one lucky establishment had the pleasure of meeting some adorable new friends twice in one week.

Students at St Bees School were thrilled to be visited by teacher Sarah Pinney's baby chicks on Wednesday (April 29), learning all about how they hatch, what their behaviours mean, and their biology.

As Mrs Pinney teaches art, all the tiny birds were named after famous artists, including Picasso, Modigliani, Blake, Frink and Miro, and the whole school had a ball interacting with them.

But they hadn't used up all their luck just yet, as two days later, Mrs Pinney – who runs a smallholding with her husband and St Bees School's biology teacher, Luke – found a rejected lamb, and decided to bring the little Shetland Sheep in for another great lesson.

As the couple's flock is non-commercial, they name and register them all, and with this year's theme being Star Wars, the name Luke Skywalker was chosen.

And after being introduced to the very cute Luke, after the necessary paperwork had been completed by his owners, pupils were instantly smitten, and spent the day learning all about him.

The lesson covered everything from how lambs are born and why they can be rejected, and how farmers help rejected lambs, to how to feed and care for them, and the work required to run a smallholding – with Mrs Pinney explaining that she has some extremely starts to check on new lambs.

Arron, who is currently in Year 7, said: “Meeting Luke Skywalker the lamb and holding the chicks was really fun!

"Mrs Pinney showed me how to bottle feed him and it was really interesting to learn more about lambs and what care they need."

He added: "My favourite part of the day was playing with the lamb outside during break time – he really enjoyed chasing us around the field!”

The older pupils also enjoyed the day, and Year 12 student, Jordan, said: “It was really exciting to experience a hands-on approach to wildlife in the classroom. It made me appreciate the wonderful wildlife that we have around St Bees a lot more.”

Commenting on how baby Skywalker is settling in, Mrs Pinney said: "Luke Skywalker has been introduced to the rest of the flock, and now plays out during the day.

"At night he curls up in our kitchen keeping warm – and luckily sleeps through!"

And while each of the visits only lasted a day, the students can watch the animals grow over the coming months, as Mrs Pinney plans to bring them in for more lessons – and plenty more cuddles!