The HISTORIC surroundings of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal proved to be the perfect inspiration for students in a unique new link between the World Heritage Site and Ripon Grammar School.
The wide open spaces and stunning stone ruins at the National Trust property on the edge of Ripon provided the backdrop for imaginary public events the students were tasked with developing as part of a literacy project.
Literacy coordinator at Ripon Grammar School Sally Dring explained: "We held a pilot project with Fountains Abbey last year so this is the first time we've done this for real.
"The initiative is based around literacy but also incorporates numeracy, history, business and other subjects. The whole of Year 9 are involved and I'm sure they will come up with some really interesting ideas."
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal learning officer Emma Manners visited the school to brief the students on their task: to develop an event incorporating the unique character of the place and appealing to a range of visitors.
They were 'given' a budget of £200 plus resources including water, power, tables, chairs, rugs, gazebos and a catering barbecue, and the services of a member of staff and two volunteers.
Divided into groups, the students had to decide the exact location of their event within the Fountains estate.
"In outlining the task to the students I kept the brief as close to a 'real' event as possible, including all the things we have to consider when planning an event, in particular thinking about the target audience," said Emma.
Among the ideas the students came up with was a Cluedo evening, a masquerade ball, medieval games and film screenings.
Student Ysabel Brown, 14, of Topcliffe, said: "I've never been here before, it's great."
Lucie Algret, 14, of Ripon, added: "It's very dramatic, definitely inspiring."
Sophie Bissitt, 14, of Ripon, said: "The architecture is really good. It inspired our group to come up with the idea of projecting a film like Robin Hood on the abbey walls."
The students will be judged on the way they write about the project and the marketing materials they produce to promote their event.
