Pupils shine in display of skill
Jul 1 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal
TALENT in all fields is being celebrated this week in the first ever national schools festival applauding the skills and abilities of children of all ages.
Hundreds of the region’s schools are taking part in the Shine Week, a five-day festival which began yesterday, and day one featured diverse events ranging from sports to acting and music.
Among the schools celebrating their students’ many talents during the opening of the event yesterday was Bedewell Primary School in Hebburn, which held auditions for its own Bedewell’s Got Talent Show, based on the hit Britain’s Got Talent TV series.
And today the school’s student council will be visiting the Houses of Parliament in London while the cheerleading squad perform at Temple Park Community Centre.
Headteacher Les McAnaney said: “This festival gives us and all schools an opportunity to celebrate the many talents we have in school, from sports to music, arts, dance and other skills such as listening, debating and representing others.
“For example, we have an active debating group in school which won a competition earlier this year and today’s visit to see Jarrow MP Stephen Hepburn at work in the House of Commons will allow those pupils who have been elected by their peers to see the same skills they use being exercised by those in power.”
Other events taking place today across the region include children from Simonside Primary School in Jarrow performing their summer production, while Cambo First School, Walton C of E First School and Longhorsley St Helen’s First School in Morpeth – combined as Castle Federation Schools – stage their own mini Olympics at Gateshead International Stadium.
One of the highlights of the event will be the first performance of the Castle Federation Schools’ own national anthem for Northumberland, written by the students specially to mark Shine Week.
The festival forms part of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s campaign to unlock talent in young people and follows a survey by the Talent and Enterprise Taskforce, which found that while children and young people say they are good at and proud of having a wide range of skills, the vast majority did not recognise talent in themselves.
Carol Alevroyianni, national director of Shine, said: “We’re thrilled that so many schools and their pupils have embraced the opportunity to take part.”
For more information and to see which schools in your area are celebrating Shine, visit www.shineweek.co.uk
