Fifteen students from Monkton Wood Academy recently took part in an exciting music workshop run by two members of Somerstage, organised by the Octagon Music Hub (Somerset Music).

Somerstage, a Bridgwater-based musical theatre school for young people aged seven to 18, operates out of The McMillan Theatre.

During the workshop, students learned how to properly warm up their voices and develop key performance skills, including diction, voice projection, and stage presentation.

The session culminated in a spectacular group performance of At the End of the Day from Les Misérables.

All students who participated said they thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and gained valuable experience in musical theatre performance.

Sian Bowen, a teacher at Monkton Wood Academy, said: “It was wonderful to see our students so engaged and confident. Experiences like this help nurture their talents and inspire a lifelong love of music and performance.”

Learners from Year 6 at Wallscourt Farm Academy recently welcomed Sam and Max, Police Community Support Officers from Staple Hill Police Station.

They delivered a special workshop on the dangers of sharing images online. The session explored how young people can stay safe, make responsible choices, and protect their digital wellbeing.

Sam and Max were full of praise for the Wallscourt learners, who impressed them with their excellent listening skills, thoughtful engagement, and insightful questions.

A spokesperson for the academy said: “We are thrilled to welcome Sam and Max to Wallscourt Farm Academy.

“It’s so important that our learners understand how to navigate the online world safely, and today’s workshop really highlighted their curiosity and maturity when discussing these important issues.”

A team of dancers from Bristol Metropolitan Academy impressed a high profile audience with their skills at a key education sector event.

Around 200 people from organisations working across Bristol in education, the charities and voluntary sector, businesses, Bristol City Council, and universities, met to explore ways to bridge gaps and build futures for children and young people in Bristol.

The day was opened by the Bristol Met dance team – and their performance earned a hugely positive reception from attendees.

They received huge applause and commendations from Rachel Robinson, CEO of Learning Partnership West, Hannah Woodhouse, Executive Director of the Children and Education Directorate for Bristol City Council and Sir Jon Coles, CEO of United Learning and Independent Commissioner for the Bristol Future Programme.

CLF Institute Director Alison Fletcher, who attended the event, said: “They were brilliant – confident, composed, brave, pitch-perfect, adaptable around the unfamiliar stage and obstacles. Exceptionally well prepared!

“We were so proud of them, how they represented themselves, Bristol Met and the CLF. Well done to everyone involved.”

Lucie Morrish, teacher of drama and dance at Bristol Metropolitan Academy, said: “The students absolutely loved it. They loved being able to perform again and they always make us so proud.

“I was so glad to hear everyone at the event enjoyed it. We really appreciate the opportunity to show the fantastic drama and performance work we do at Bristol Met.”

Pupils at Evergreen Primary Academy enjoyed a sweet and memorable experience as members of the school’s popular cooking club baked a batch of delicious homemade cupcakes.

From carefully mixing and measuring ingredients to decorating their creations with creativity and flair, pupils demonstrated impressive culinary skills while working together as a team. The session was filled with excitement, laughter and the irresistible aroma of freshly baked treats.

The activity not only helped pupils develop practical cooking skills but also encouraged cooperation, confidence and creativity, proving once again that nothing brings people together quite like good food and great company.

A spokesperson for Evergreen Primary Academy said: “Our cooking club gives pupils the opportunity to learn valuable life skills in a fun and engaging way.

“It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm, teamwork and pride in what they created, and their cupcakes were absolutely delicious!”

Students at Tewkesbury Academy have put on an amazing school production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, delighting audiences across three sell-out nights.

Based on CS Lewis’s much-loved novel, the production was specially re-written for the school by Morgan Taylor, Head of Drama and Lead Drama Teacher.

The adaptation brought the magical world of Narnia vividly to life, showcasing the talent, creativity, and dedication of the school’s students.

The story follows the Pevensie children — Peter (Noah Green, Year 11), Edmund (Joseph Curtis, Year 10), Susan (Indi Morgan, Year 11) and Lucy (Olivia Holtham, Year 9) — as they step through a wardrobe and discover the magical world of Narnia. There, they encounter talking animals, mythical creatures, and the powerful forces of good and evil, learning powerful lessons about courage, loyalty, and friendship along the way.

More than 70 students from Years 7 to 11 were involved in the production, taking part both on stage and behind the scenes in vital backstage, lighting, and technical roles.

Rehearsals began in June 2025 and took place every Wednesday after school, alongside two Friday rehearsals and two additional Sunday rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the performances.

Miss Taylor said: “I am incredibly proud of every student involved in this production.

“Their commitment, teamwork, and creativity have been outstanding from the very first rehearsal.

“Seeing students from different year groups work together to bring such a well-loved story to life has been truly inspiring, and the final performances were a wonderful celebration of their hard work and talent.”

There was no hurricane at Waycroft Academy as Year 3 pupils created their own weather reports for the South West of England.

Using green screen technology, pupils filmed their forecasts before selecting background images to replace the green pixels in their videos. The project gave pupils the opportunity to step into the role of weather presenters, delivering reports directly to camera.

As part of the activity, pupils developed confidence in speaking, worked collaboratively as a team and learned how to use an autocue, gaining valuable digital and communication skills along the way.

A spokesperson for Waycroft Academy said: “Projects like these bring learning to life.

“The children showed fantastic enthusiasm and creativity, and it was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they presented their weather reports.

“These experiences help prepare pupils with skills they will use both in school and beyond.”