Students at a Harrogate school have “expanded their horizons” during their annual enrichment week.
Ashville College’s annual MADS (Music, Art, Drama and Sports) Week sees its scholarship students participate in a number of events and activities, led by experts in their chosen professions.
The week began with a music theatre workshop and a dance workshop, led by the Principal of PQA (Pauline Quirke Academy) Canterbury, Laura Selwood, which was followed in the afternoon by a second music workshop and concert, this time led by the members of Resolution 88, a jazz-funk band.
Tuesday was devoted to capturing images on camera, with workshops led by Leeds-based professional commercial photographer, Hannah Webster.
On Wednesday, the pupils were given an opportunity to join Gaspard Zamble, who is a professional dance performer/teacher in an African drumming workshop.
The school’s Sports Centre was the setting for a boxing workshop led by Mike Popplewell, who then followed it up with “Tricking” sessions.
Tricking is a combination of dance moves from breakdancing and flips from gymnastics, aspiring to produce a visual, aesthetic effect. Examples of typical tricking techniques include the flashkick, the butterfly twist and the double leg.
Stunt co-ordinator and founder of Squire Stage Combat, Mark Ruddick, ran a stage combat workshop for pupils, whilst students also had the opportunity to attend a trip to see the theatre production of Mamma Mia.
The week’s activities concluded with an exhibition of GCSE and A-Level art work, which was attended by the Mayor of Harrogate, Coun Anne Jones, governors, staff members and parents.
Anna Wilby, Ashville College’s Director of Music, said: This week has helped to enrich the lives of our scholars, and, in essence, it has been a way of broadening their horizons, hence this year’s theme, Expanding Horizons!
“On behalf of the school, I would like to thank the specialists who gave up their time to run the various workshops and give our scholarship students a flavour of different experiences not necessarily covered in the school curriculum.
