Pupils at Chetwynde school have been showcasing their creative talents in speech and drama exams and professional workshops.

The school, which is part of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, held Trinity College of London Speech and Drama exams for more than 20 students across primary and seniors this month.

Everyone passed with merit or distinction with Iona Harvey, a Year 11 pupil and drama prefect, and Nathan Lee Cheong achieving distinctions in Grade 8.

Drama teacher Colynne Hicks was delighted with the results.

“Congratulations to all our students particularly Iona and Nathan, who passed the highest possible Trinity Grade with extremely high marks and now receive UCAS points.

“We are unique in the area for having so many students involved in Trinity and currently three who have achieved Grade 8, which is most often taken at sixth form level.”

She said Rodi Bektasoglu and Gray Sutherland both passed with distinction in their first ever Trinity exams and Tilly Thwaites overcame challenges to perform two memorised pieces to a live examiner and pass her Grade 2 with merit.

Meanwhile Year 10s at Chetwynde who are studying GCSE performing arts had the opportunity to work with a professional film and stage fight director.

Mark Ruddic showed them how actors film fight scenes in Hollywood movies and theatre productions in a stage combat workshop.

Katherine Parkinson, Head of Faculty for Creative Arts and PE, said it had been a fantastic month of achievements for the pupils.

“The Trinity grades are excellent and our GCSE students really enjoyed taking part in the stage combat workshop will now be able to use the skills they have learned in some of their own pieces.”

Two more Barrow schools are starting the new year announcing plans to join South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust.

South Walney Juniors and Cambridge Primary School have both decided to academise and join SCMAT from September 1^st 2023.

This follows Newbarns School’s decision to join the Furness College-led Trust, which already has Ormsgill and Vickerstown Schools among its members together with founding school Chetwynde.

The South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust began in 2021 with education at its heart and a real focus on pupils achieving their full potential and gaining valuable academic and life skills.

It is committed to providing excellent education across Barrow and the surrounding areas and will work with industry and the wider community.

Speaking about the news, SCMAT Chief Executive Professor Andrew Wren said he was delighted the governing bodies at South Walney Juniors and Cambridge had both resolved to join.

“We are really looking forward to working with three new schools this year. When I met with the headteachers – Zena and Jenny – I could see that they shared the values of our Trust to retain the individuality of each school while being part of a bigger network and all the benefits that will bring.

“When the Trust was formed 18 months ago, I could not have envisaged how popular it would have been but I think governors, heads and staff are already seeing the progress we are making with our member schools through supporting curriculum improvements and putting them at the forefront of decision-making about what is right for their school.”

Zena Lines, who is Headteacher at South Walney Junior School, said: “We can see that being part of SCMAT will help us to tap into shared expertise across like-minded member schools and this will benefit the amazing pupils and staff here long-term.”

Jenny Lavery, who is Headteacher at Cambridge Primary School, said: “Our Governors chose SCMAT after meeting with the senior team there and hearing about their vision and their aspirations for pupils and we are really excited to start the process of academisation to further strengthen our wonderful school.”