Pupils are streets ahead

A junior arts academy showcase celebrating ten weeks’ of children’s work took place on Wednesday.

Seventy youngsters, aged ten and 11, attended the academy at Toot Hill School, Bingham.

They took part in various art, drama and dance activities based on the theme of the streets.

It included making a car and buildings out of mod rock, graffiti art, street dancing and drumming.

Professional artists including Mr Nathan Bainbridge and the Samanya Drama Company passed on their skills.

Abigail Swain, of the arts academy, said pupils came up with the theme after a brainstorming session at the start of the course.

She said they were impressed with the standard of work produced.

In 2003, the school was granted specialist status in visual arts and launched its junior arts academy, which runs creative workshops for its 11 feeder primary schools.

Each term ends with a celebratory show of the work produced.