Pupils go for gold in an extravaganza of song and dance

HUNDREDS of students prepared for life at the big school in spectacular fashion as they went for gold in an extravaganza of song, dance and drama.

Darlington School of Mathematics and Science took on a carnival feel as Year 5 pupils from across the town descended en masse.

The primary school pupils spent two days in dance, drums, drama and singing workshops before staging a 90-minute performance of the skills they had learnt, called Going for Gold.

Working with educational consultants Tardis Education, the Joanne Banks Dancers, professional drummer Rob Walker, vocalist Kerry Green, dramatist Siobhan Viggars and DSMS arts and transition staff, the children produced a polished performance for a packed house of friends and family.

Children attended from Reid Street School, West Park Academy, Mount Pleasant and Mowden Primary Schools.

Tardis Education’s Les Watts said: “Everyone was absolutely fantastic and did themselves proud. They learnt a great deal over the two days and the performance was amazing.”

Head teacher Calvin Kipling added: “The performance was breath-taking and it was incredible to see how much the children absorbed and achieved in such a short space of time.

“Many of the children will come to DSMS with such happy memories of the event which cannot fail to help them settle in to the next stage of their education. It is occasions like this that serve to remind us all how fantastic it is to be a teacher.”