News & Headteacher Blogs

Students from across School took to the stage on Wednesday, 15 July for a fantastic evening of theatre & dance our bi-annual House Performing Arts Competition.

The event opened with an energetic curtain-raiser from the KS3 Commercial Dance Club, performing ‘Can’t Hold Us’ under the direction of choreographer Miss Haughey. Dancers Talia, Maisie, Pauline, Siena, Amelia, Emily, Izzie, Amelie, Maren, Miley and Cece set the tone perfectly for an evening filled with amazing show tunes. 

Congratulations to Ridgeway for winning the competition overall!

Each of our seven Houses then presented a performance inspired by a much-loved musical.

Aldworth: The Little Mermaid

Student leaders: Freya W and Lydia C

Cast: Beren R, Bridget B, Elizabeth S, Elliot M, Jasper S, Isabella, Cameron L, Jack A, Immy N, Martha F, Marta PD, Roman E and Rachel.

Beechwood: Annie The Musical

Student leaders: Phoebe-Marie M, Miriam R, Luca M, Oliver S and Gabby D

Cast: Emilia E, Annie E, Charlotte D, Connie K, Estelle S, Faith A, Hatty S, Marla T, Rosey C and Summer D.

Chiltern: Mary Poppins

Cast: Annabell B, Ava T, Edward D, Flo R, Freya S, Kara R, Mabel A and Rose H.

Ilsley: Frozen

Student leaders: Eliana L, Cara F, Matilda T, Flora T, Saskia G and Erin B

Cast: Lulla H, Molly H, Ori A, Rosie B, Siena K, Skye C, Zelie R, Charlotte T, Dora H, Edie S, Fern M and Josie R.

Lowbury: Beauty and the Beast

Student leaders: Ella C, Harry OB and Amelie R

Cast: George R, Holly L, Imogen B, Isla C, James A, Jemmin S, Katie K, Layla B, Lily S, Maddie S, Nell G, Olivia T, Poppy D, Reagan W, Rosie E, Ruben D, Ruby D, Tashmika S, Tilly H, Yvetta R and Alex B.

Perborough: Matilda

Student leaders: Elsie H, Melina A and Bella B

Cast: Millie S, Camilla E, Tess D, Scarlet B and Miley B.

WINNER: Ridgeway: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

Student leaders: Beth M, Sophie G, Finley B, Orla M and Eloise L

Cast: Cillian C, Jude K, Nyla T, Olivia L, Talia H, Jesse S, Maren W, Lorelei N, Odette P and Pauline M.

 

The performances were led, choreographed and directed by our Year 10 student leaders, who worked incredibly hard to bring together their casts and develop each production. Their organisation, patience and creativity were clear throughout the evening. Every student who stepped onto the stage also deserves enormous praise for committing to rehearsals, supporting one another and performing with such enthusiasm in front of a live audience.

Our judging panel, Mr Wilson, Mrs Brown, Alumni Sam Schreiber and Lucy Murray, faced the extremely difficult task of considering seven very different and entertaining performances. We are very grateful to them for giving their time and expertise to the competition.

An event of this scale is only possible with the support of many people. Thank you to our Performing Arts staff, Miss Blake, Miss Brennecke, Miss Duthie, Miss Duckham and Mr Hoyle, as well as our Heads of House, technical team Rebekah H and Hayden F, and colleagues from the site, finance, marketing and reprographics.

We are also grateful to the volunteers from The Downs School Trust who helped to provide refreshments.

Most importantly, thank you to all the families who joined us and supported the students. The atmosphere throughout the evening was warm, encouraging and full of House pride.

The competition was a wonderful celebration of the courage, creativity, resilience and ambition of our students. We could not be prouder of everyone who stepped forward to lead, perform, organise or support such a memorable evening.