Chetwynde School is celebrating after pupils secured a score of exceptional results in their Trinity College London exams.

With entries across the primary and senior school, pupils aged from 8 to 16 showcased their talent for speech and drama, acting and musical theatre.

Katherine Parkinson, Head of the Creative Faculty at Chetwynde School, said it has been a week of creativity, discipline and passion to perform.

“Each exam performance was a testament to the hard work and dedication our students have put in and we’re proud to announce an exceptional set of results, with many distinctions and merits awarded across the board,” she said.

Among the high-achieving students were Arabella and Frankie, both in Year 6, who achieved a Distinction in Grade 4 Paired Acting.

Performing Arts Prefect Gray Sutherland earned a Merit in Grade 6 Speech and Drama, showcasing impressive stagecraft and leadership.

Isabella Armstrong and Marla Currie reached a milestone, both sitting their Grade 8 Speech and Drama exams after completing every level throughout their time at Chetwynde showing a long-term commitment and love for the performing arts.

Katherine Parkinson, Head of the Creative Faculty at Chetwynde School which is part of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, said: “These results reflect not only the incredible talent of our students, but also their resilience, commitment, and love for the performing arts.

“To watch them grow in confidence and skill has been a real privilege. We are so proud of each and every one of them — the future of theatre, music, and performance is in very good hands!”

She thanked the outstanding teaching team — Colynne Hicks, Maisie Preston and Lucy Carpenter — praising their expert guidance for helping to bring out the best in every student.

A pupil from South Walney Junior School showed her passion for performance on one of the greatest world stages when she secured a finalist spot at the prestigious Poetry By Heart competition this month.

Holly Dawes delivered a heartfelt recital of her chosen poem ‘Sick’ by Eleanor Farjeon on stage at London’s world-famous Globe Theatre, earning praise from judges, fellow participants and educators alike.

Poetry By Heart is a national poetry recitation competition that encourages young people to learn and perform poems aloud, developing their understanding of language, rhythm and expression. The event at the Globe Theatre brought together talented students from across the country for a celebration of spoken word and performance.

Deputy Headteacher Michelle Banks said Holly’s achievement to reach the finals was remarkable.

“We are incredibly proud of Holly and everything she has achieved. To be selected as a finalist in a national competition is an extraordinary honour and her dedication, confidence and love of language truly shone through in her performance. She had real stage presence.”

“At South Walney Junior School, we work hard to foster creativity and self-expression in our pupils and Holly’s success is a wonderful reflection of that. She’s been an inspiration to her peers and we hope her journey encourages other children to find their voice through poetry.”

The school, part of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, has enjoyed previous success in the competition and won the Poetry by Heart Special Contribution Award last year. The award recognised the school’s work over the past three years to increase the profile of poetry at the school in an inclusive way through after-school clubs and competitions.

Holly said she had loved the experience.

“Taking part in Poetry By Heart helped me feel more confident speaking in front of people. I learned how to use my voice to bring the poem to life and understand the meaning behind the words. Performing at the Globe was amazing – I’ll never forget it,” she said.

Holly was supported by MP for Barrow and Furness Michelle Scrogham in her performance at the Globe, which capped off months of hard work, memorisation and rehearsal. 

Pupils across South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust marked La Fête de la Francophonie with a celebration of the diverse countries and cultures where French is an official language.

From South Walney Juniors to Newbarns, Cambridge and Chetwynde, Ormsgill to Vickerstown, each school within the Trust spent of the day exploring different Francophone countries, delving into their connections to France, their vibrant cultures and unique traditions.

As part of the celebration, children tasted French food and took part in in creative activities such as designing clothing and bracelets inspired by bold and colourful African fashion.

They also wore traditional African clothing and took part in an African-inspired dance workshop, deepening their cultural appreciation through movement and experience.

Other pupils attempted to create the Eiffel Tower out of paper straws and did the can-can outside in the sunshine. Some explored Canadian Mardi Gras learnt about Cameroon and created artwork based on French Canadian artists and researched French speaking footballers.

At Chetwynde, Headteacher Steve Jefferson showed true commitment to the theme by sampling a snail – encouraging pupils to be adventurous and try new foods associated with French-speaking countries.

Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages Paul Vaughan, who helped coordinate the event, said: “It was a day of celebration with lots of opportunities for pupils to learn the vocabulary linked to the activities, learn more about French speaking countries and improve their confidence with languages.”

“Following on from this and to increase the profile of French within the SCMAT, in the autumn term a visiting theatre group will be performing entirely in French. This immersive experience will once again involve multiple schools across the Trust.”

SCMAT CEO Professor Andrew Wren said: “As a languages graduate, I am delighted we have an enriching and engaging celebration that reflects SCMAT’s commitment to broadening pupils’ global perspectives while strengthening language skills in fun and meaningful ways.”