?Pupils at a Droitwich school took part in a special Creative Arts festival that saw them take part in a range of literature, music and performance events over a five week period.

Youngsters at Westacre Middle School enjoyed their school’s first ever Eisteddfod Festival – a tradition dating back to 12th Century Welsh culture that is now popular with many schools.

For four weeks, all of the 9-12 year old pupils at Westacre were given the choice of a range of tasks to complete for homework that linked to the theme of British Values.

These included speech writing, film making, artwork and science inventions and all gave the children opportunities to earn themselves and their respective school house some Eisteddfod points.

Based on certain success criteria, teachers at the school graded each and every entry, awarding

points, as well as choosing highly commended, 3rd, 2nd and 1st place entries.

These results were revealed during the school’s Eisteddfod Festival Day, which celebrated the culmination of everyone’s efforts and a range of live performances.

Pupils took part in cake making, singing, dancing, poetry performing, acting and instrument playing competitions during the day in front of a live audience of Westacre pupils and staff. Once more, staff judged and chose winners for each event, which helped to find both year group and whole school overall winners.

The top scoring boy and girl from each year group were - Bruno Osmond-Hopes and Emmie Clarke from Year 5, Cotton Hennessy and Frankie Walker from Year 6, and Jack Lockley and Kimberly Jones from Year 7.

At the end of the festival, Emmie and Cotton were crowned overall female and male Eisteddfod champion, while the school’s Turing house (names after famous British computer scientist Alan Turing) came out on top securing over 2,000 Eisteddfod points over the five weeks.

Emmie Clarke said: “I really enjoyed getting the chance to express myself in so many different ways! I enjoyed doing all of the activities and I’m most proud of my history timeline.”

Cotton Hennessey said: “I enjoyed the fact that there were loads of different things to participate in. My favourite part was the gymnastics routine that I did. I’m most proud of the board game I created because it took me hours to make!”

Phil Cotton, school Eisteddfod organiser: “I have been over-the-moon with the pupils' response to Eisteddfod. Some of the entries have been mind-blowingly good and, what has been fantastic, is the fact that the quality and effort is seen throughout all three years.

"The speeches were of a quality that could teach our politicians a thing or two, the board games will keep Waddington's on their toes, the art work was simply sensational and some of

the timelines just seemed to keep going and going and going.

"In fact, one of the timelines shown in assembly, completed by a year 5, stretched the full width of the school hall! As a school we have been overwhelmed by the talents on show.”

Paul Barber, deputy headteacher said: “The Eisteddfod festival has been a huge success – truly inspiring our pupils to think carefully about British Values as well as giving them the opportunity to shine and show off their amazing talents.

"A massive thank you to all staff for the role they played in organising this and particularly thanks to Mr Cotton for the hours spent preparing and for ensuring the festival day itself was so successful.

"Well done to our pupils, who all took part in the festival, and congratulations to the six winners who have set the standard for next year.”?