WATCH: Schools dance for Comic Relief

Teachers and staff from Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools in Morpeth put on their dancing shoes on in support of Red Nose Day 2017.
Picture by Jane Coltman — Teachers and staff from Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools in Morpeth put on their dancing shoes on in support of Red Nose Day 2017. Picture by Jane Coltman

It was the biggest fund-raiser that Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools and Technology Colleges have ever done. Those involved, which included more than 1,000 pupils, planned, practised and perfected their two dances over the past few months.

They were performed to Olly Murs’ Dance With Me Tonight and Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon, which were chosen by student voice pupils. They were choreographed by Year 8 students.

The day itself last Friday was packed with fun and fund-raising, with the whole school community getting involved to help Comic Relief. Other activities included a bake sale and using pennies to create the school crest.

Elizabeth Kinninment, head of school at Newminster, said: “What a fantastic achievement!

“Our students have worked hard over the last few months to learn their dances for Comic Relief. More than 1,000 students from both schools came together to perform their Red Nose Dance in the sunshine and we couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Amy Stephenson and Jasmine Haigh, Year 8 pupils from Chantry, said: “Working on and then performing the dances helped us to get better at teamwork and it really inspired us to mix in with others and try new things.”

Teachers and staff from Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools in Morpeth put on their dancing shoes on in support of Red Nose Day 2017.
Three of a kind: Nieve, Chloe and Rose.
Picture by Jane Coltman — Teachers and staff from Newminster and Chantry Middle Schools in Morpeth put on their dancing shoes on in support of Red Nose Day 2017. Three of a kind: Nieve, Chloe and Rose. Picture by Jane Coltman

Year 8 Newminster student Matthew Preston added: “It looked incredible to see two schools dancing in time with each other.”

Newminster and Chantry have recently been given the Red Nose Day Super School award by Comic Relief for their fund-raising efforts.

The money raised by the public for Comic Relief last Friday, and in the weeks leading up to it, is spent on helping people who are living incredibly tough lives – both in the UK and Africa.