02 March 2005 :
ThisisGloucestershire
Churchdown School held an awards evening with a difference when
Big Brother came to town.
The Achievements Evening, a celebration of everything that is good about the school and its pupils, was held in a "context of cool" in retaliation to what was once seen as "boffin" territory. Gone were the traditional speeches, the special guests and the monotonous processions of pupils accepting bland certificates.
And in their place came a Big Brother theme, complete with on-stage "Diary Room", evictions and the school's own version of Dermot O'Leary and Davina McCall.
Heads of year were called to the stage to announce their nominations for awards from a giant Big Brother chair, while live cameras filmed them and broadcast it over a screen to the audience.
The evening was also used to recap the events of the last year.
"Housemates" were called to the stage amid dry ice to be interviewed on such topics as the School Parliament and the school's jubilee celebrations by Toby Smith, who provided the voice of Big Brother.
Dancers from Year Nine and Jack Hobbs, with his human beat-box skills, entertained the 500-strong audience, which included teachers, governors, fellow pupils and proud parents.
Assistant headteacher Leanna Arkell, who organised the event with media technician Sally Thomas and Year 13 student Gavin Willoughby, said the evening had been a "fantastic" success.
"It was a lovely show. The pupils and parents really enjoyed it and people keep asking how we can top it next year," she said.
"We're thinking of doing Stars in their Eyes or I'm a Churchdown Pupil, Get Me Out of Here.
"I'd like to thank all the people who worked on the show and made it a success, and the parents for their support in attending."
