Festive sounds are echoing around the Expressive Arts block as staff help pupils prepare for the annual Carol Service on Tuesday 13 December. There will be singing of traditional carols, themed readings and drama sketches, as well as musical items from the DP Singers, DP Players Ensemble, the Guitar Group, the Flute Ensemble and the Ukulele group.

Following last year's successful introduction of a year group song - over a hundred pupils singing Do They Know It’s Christmas? - our Year 7 pupils have been practising singing Happy Xmas (War is Over) in class. There is a copy of the letter given to Year 7s on our Letters page. Music teacher Mr Cook said "Preparations are well under way for the Year 7 song, I have been rehearsing today and the pupils are already making a lovely sound."

Daniel in Year 9 will be performing in one of the drama sketches - he will be asking his 'teacher' lots of annoying questions whilst the 'teacher' tries to tell the story of how Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem. "This is a great thing to be a part of; working on something festive makes Christmas seem even closer!"

There will be a retiring collection for Crisis, the national charity for homeless people which is dedicated to ending homelessness by delivering life-changing services and campaigning for change. They aim to do more for homeless people in more places across the UK and help to change their lives for good.

We look forward to seeing you at St John the Baptist Church in Cirencester on Tuesday 13 December at 7pm.

Photographs from our Carol Service Rehearsal in 2015, courtesy of Tanli Joy Lundgren