A GROUP of pupils at a west Wiltshire girl's school will appear on a prime time TV show in France showing off their etiquette skills.

Year 12 girls at Stonar School, Atworth, were filmed by the French TV company TF1 on Sunday while taking part in a prefect training day. The training day was run by Rachel Holland, a former maths teacher, who has formed her own company to teach modern manners and social skills to students at schools and universities.

TF1, the French equivalent of BBC1, filmed the students because it is producing a programme about the training offered by Mrs Holland, which is to be broadcast next week.

Dr Sally Divall, head of sixth form at Stonar, said: "The girls, who have all been chosen to be new prefects, spent the whole day doing team building exercises and an etiquette and manners course.

"The television company filmed the girls at lunchtime and when they were learning etiquette, and several of them were interviewed by the TV crew. "In the evening a formal meal was held where the students hosted the senior staff, and showed off the skills they learned during the day."

A number of universities and schools across the country have used Mrs Holland's techniques. Stonar, which takes day and boarding pupils, prides itself on teaching self-confidence to its pupils. The manners and social skills section includes learning the best way to meet and greet people, how to walk and present yourself and how to behave in a formal setting such as a dinner party or job interview.

Conversation, courtesy, dress, personal presentation and table manners were also covered, to make the girls feel more comfortable and confident in social situations.