FAME Academy, Popstars and Pop Idol will have nothing on pupils at a Worcester school in the years to come.

While these television shows currently satisfy the public demand for reality television, Bishop Perowne CE High School will be producing stars of its own.

The school celebrated its arts college status last night in a gala evening showcasing its talent.

More than 100 pupils took part in drama, dance and music presentations giving visitors the chance to see a slice of what goes on at the school.

It was announced in February that the school was chosen to be a pioneering arts college in the county, continuing its top quality work.

"It gives us a licence to open our doors to offer events to all the community that, during a normal school day they wouldn't be able to do," said assistant head, Mike Perry.

"This is a school that has an excellent history in the arts.

"Dance, drama and music have all been high quality at the school.

"Becoming an arts college was a natural choice.

"This is always a very colourful place. That means we can focus on the imagination and the ways in which young people can benefit from being creative and working with other people.

"It gives a great boost to self esteem and the social opportunities it can provide."

Boosting pupils' self-confidence and self-esteem is a major part of arts status.

Everywhere you look around the school are examples of pupils' work. There are reminders of school clubs and different activities going on throughout the school, in and out of normal hours.

"It's not about fantastic productions for limited people," said headteacher Peter Warner.

"We're looking at engaging all our students in having more opportunity to perform, not only in public, but in small groups, to develop self-confidence.

"We do want big productions but it's not the purpose of it.

"We have a drama therapist working with young people to build up self-confidence.

"This goes on in the background. We see all the lovely productions, but having arts status is much bigger than that."

Being able to specialise has opened up a number of opportunities for pupils at the Merriman's Hill school.

Two new members of staff have been employed as a result.

Steve Tommey, an advanced skills teacher in music, and Andy Clark, an arts technician, are examples of that.

The pair have been employed purely because of the arts status.

"The extra money being an arts college has given us we're investing in people," said Mr Perry. "It's not just about grand theatres.

"With extra people in the arts team we're really firing all cylinders.

"It means that where a normal teacher might be working long hours doing after-school events this provides extra flexibility.

"We've got much more capacity to do things now."

With the extra people comes expertise and already the pair have been developing contacts throughout the school and pupils are discovering what they can do to help their schooling.

There will be professional lighting rigs set up in the hall once it is refurbished and a rig will also be available in the drama studio.

Pupils who might not want to be on stage will be able to learn how to control the lighting and sound systems through the technician.

Mr Tommey is adding a different element to music and has already instigated the start of a development in one of the classrooms. It will house a multitude of equipment that pupils will be able to use to compose, record and produce their own music.

"We're looking at the development of creativity throughout the school," said Mr Warner. "Our mission is to develop the spirit of all our students and prepare them for their life at the end of school."

The school is working in partnership with a number of organisations involved in the arts, including the Midland Musical Theatre Group and the National Theatre.

It also has the support of the Swan Theatre in Worcester and Malvern Theatres.

Other schools in partnership with Bishop Perowne will also benefit from the arts college status, along with the local community.

But it doesn't mean that everyone at the school will be learning just their scales, or their dance moves.

"Bishop Perowne is not just about students who are good at performing arts," said Mr Warner.

"We've excellent work going on in all our subjects and we will continue this.

"This will enhance the National Curriculum, it won't be at the expense of other subjects.

"There's a danger of people thinking this is a fame school, but it's about developing self-confidence."