Many of us will have dreamed of being in charge of our school, setting out the rules and going wild with fun activities.

Maxwell Hellman, an 11-year-old from Laxey Primary School, got to live out this dream by being head teacher for one day.

We followed up on this story, published in last week’s Manx Independent, by asking the public what they’d get up to if they had the same chance.

Emily McGilvray of Douglas would have a whole day of art. The 17-year-old said: ’Maybe it could be painting or it could be pottery. Like in Silverdale where you could paint your own plates.

’I just like being creative and I’m more into colours than maths or English. Having those subjects all day in school makes you plain, I think.’

Her friend, Beth Barrett, of Onchan would have a massive sports day.

’I think school can be a bit too much for some kids. I’d get them to pick out what sport they’d like to do.’

The 17-year-old lifeguard and gym-goer said she would have loved to have a choice over PE activities when she was in school.

Bibi Simpson, seven, of Douglas said she’d have a puppy come into school and let the students have chocolate.

Her mother, Sarah, 50, said: ’I would make it compulsory to have a musical instrument and would have more drama and arty stuff on.’

Her husband, James, 55, said he would specifically have students playing pianos and tennis for the day.

Sarah added: ’A good head teacher makes a massive difference. School was stricter in my days. We had a head teacher who was someone to be feared.’

Ballaugh resident Steph Edge’s day as head teacher would see every classroom learning a different language.

’Children are like sponges. They soak it up, don’t they?’ the 74-year-old said.

Her granddaughter, Jessica Brook, 23, said: ’I’d have each year group learn about a different culture and have a big buffet of different foods from around the world.’

She added that she liked her head teacher in primary school.

’You want to have a head teacher you can approach if you have problems. Not someone to be scared of. My head teacher used to make me hot chocolate,’ she added.

Steph said: ’Good qualities in a head teacher include tolerance and just being human. You need someone with a good work ethic who works as hard as the staff.’

Lauren Coulthard, 29, of Union Mills, would have pupils start the day with pony trekking and then take the students to the Venture Centre or Laser Mayhem.

’I think these activities build up their confidence and are good for team building. I’d rather be out and about than inside if it’s for a day. You want it to be a day to remember.’

Her husband, Connor, would have the students teach the teachers for the day.

’I’d let the students run riot a little bit,’ he said. ’That way teachers get to see how the students want to behave.’

They both believe that good head teachers are those who integrate themselves into the classrooms, do not completely focus on what needs to be conquered in the year, and understand how to accommodate children who are gifted in different ways.