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Students from Northampton School for Girls have been finding out at first hand what it was like to attend a girls' school in the 1930s.

They're taking part in a production at Northampton's Royal & Derngate.

'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' by Muriel Spark is about an outspoken and charismatic teacher who demands utter devotion from her chosen set of girls – the school’s crème de la crème.

The students from Northampton School for Girls play some of Miss Brodie's class. They are also part of the school's choir, Madrigalis, and provide a soundtrack for the play.

Below, some of the students write about the show and compare schooling today with being a pupil in the 1930s (based on their experience in the play). Their collected thoughts have been compiled by Charis Harvey from Madrigalis.

'Daunting'

"When we first heard that Madrigalis would be taking part in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Royal & Derngate, we all assumed that we would just be singing on stage.

Madrigalis rehearse the play

"We were fairly daunted but that was nothing when we were told we would actually be Miss Brodie's class.

"At first the prospect of singing in Italian - in a Scottish accent - whilst dancing, seemed utterly impossible. But we have been helped by the R&D's fabulous team and the wonderful professional company.

"The overall experience has been great fun and we have definitely upped our game. 

"But everything has not been hard work: we have helped record sounds such as giggling girls and running up and down corridors.

"We haven't been working on this for very long but everything has come together quickly and the Royal & Derngate have succeeded in making bonny lasses out of Northampton Schoool for Girls' Madrigalis!"

'Don't get into trouble'

"It was quite strict in the 1930s," says 16-year-old NSG student Louise Jones. "Today it's more relaxed and we're treated more like adults. Back then if you were in trouble you'd get the cane."

And what have we got to learn from those days? Louise has a clear answer: "Listen to your teacher and don't get into trouble!"

Anna Francolini as Miss Jean Brodie

'Spoken to like an adult'

Claire Afford, 14, is also a member of NSG's Madrigalis. She says the biggest difference between school today and in the 1930s is how you are treated by the teachers. In the 1930s "you're the child; you're not spoken to like an adult," she says. "You're looked down on more than you are today."

Claire is glad she's at school in the 21st Century: "Teachers today treat you like they'd like to be treated, rather than treating you like a child who should speak only when you're spoken to."

No jokes

Rosalind Martin, 14, agrees that the biggest difference seems to be how teachers treat their pupils. "You couldn't a joke with them. You had to look up to them. You had to respect them completely. Now it's a more relaxed atmosphere in school." But Rosalind admits present-day students could sometimes do better at following teachers' instructions.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is at the Royal & Derngate from 12th September - 4th October 2008.