News from schools and colleges around the county.

Legging it for Lira

Over 450 pupils, parents, staff, family and friends of St Swithun’s School, Winchester successfully completed their Legging it for Lira challenge which took place recently. They walked, ran, rowed, swam, cycled and rode on horseback to cover a distance of 6,000 miles in 12 hours raising £20,000 for St Katherine’s School in Lira, northern Uganda. St Swithun’s has supported St Katherine’s for almost 20 years and the money raised will be used to fund places for girls to attend St Katherine’s who would not otherwise receive an education.

To cover the 6,000 miles, which is the distance between Winchester and Lira, other sponsored activities included two hours of non-stop drumming, sailing and busking in Winchester High Street and there were many impressive physical feats of endurance throughout the day, including seven year old Hannah Batten who swam one mile for the first time.

Reverend Katrina Dykes, chaplain at St Swithun’s, said: “This was a real team effort and through the determination of all who took part, we completed the 6,000 miles one minute before the deadline. What is even more impressive is the fundraising total and the difference that this will make to girls in Uganda who would not otherwise go to school”

A total amount of over £20,000 has been raised so far and if anybody would like to support the cause, donations can still be made on www.justgiving.com/leggingitforlira.

A fautless record for Rookwood

Rookwood School Preparatory Department is celebrating yet another magnificent set of results from their summer LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) examinations, maintaining their faultless record of 100% pass rate over the last decade.

This time it was the Year 4 children who were successful with their recitations of two poems from memory. The group of sixteen children achieved the highest number of ‘merit’ and ‘distinctions’ the school has ever received.

Their teacher, Miss Abraham, said: “The children worked very hard for three months to rehearse their pieces, frequently giving up their lunchtimes to perfect their delivery. The exams are an excellent way to build their self confidence and they all rose to the challenge beautifully. We are very proud of them”.

Making a stand

Portsmouth teenager, Keya Khandaker, made an inspiring speech about girls’ rights in front of hundreds of people in Central London recently when she helped unveil a giant erasable billboard in Trafalgar Square for global children’s charity Plan UK to mark International Day of the Girl.

The billboard showed a picture of girls at work, which was gradually rubbed out by members of the public, to reveal a picture of girls at school. For more information on Plan’s work or to make a donation call 0800 526 848 or visit www.plan-uk.org.

Time warp

Bedales pupils recently travelled back in time to discover how the Tudors enjoyed music. Pupils began by discovering the dance choreography of the Tudor period before moving on to exploring the music played at such performances.

Directors of Music Nick Gleed and Ben Harlan led the workshops with the children aged from 8 – 11, which featured instrumental ensembles and the chance to play in a renaissance band alongside Bedales sixth form musicians.