Youngsters at a Hackney school fell silent at 11am on Wednesday to remember the 439 students and teachers who fought during the First World War.

Urswick School in Paragon Road paid their respects to 62 old boys who were killed in action, as well as teacher Ernest Davis.

The school also organised a peace march through the centre of the borough, stopping at the town hall and St John at Hackney Church to lay wreaths at the war memorial.

It followed a week of learning centred around the First World War for students, who sold Anzac biscuits at break times, took part in a commemorative football match with the exchanging of gifts and read First World War poetry during a service at the school’s museum where the names of the fallen students are listed.

Poppies were also planted in the school’s peace garden.

Executive head Richard Brown said: “We have a rich school history going back nearly 500 years. It is important on occasions such as this to remember the sacrifices of earlier generations.

“At a time of ever rising levels of violent crime, especially involving knives, it is important to consistently promote to young people how important it is to live in peace”.