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Rise Multi Academy Trust brings together children from 21 schools for ‘A Night at the Movies’ in collaboration with Leicestershire Schools Music Service (LSMS).

Fri 28 Jul 2023

On Tuesday 27th June, Year 4 children from across 21 Leicestershire schools came together at The Venue, De Montfort University to perform a range of hit musical songs to celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion. The children had been practicing for the past few weeks individually before coming together on the day for the first time to rehearse and perform.

Pupils only had one singing workshop with the choral leads from Leicestershire Schools Music Service; Nicki Atkins and Emma Burns, who organised and prepared the esteemed event, before coming together to form a 400+ Rise Choir, performing on stage in front of delighted staff, friends and family.

The spectacular event, forms part of the Trust’s commitment to providing a Pupil Charter for every child – offering opportunities and experiences that enrich pupils’ learning throughout their time at primary school. A parent commented ‘I felt so proud to be part of the Rise family of schools! Thank you for giving the children that opportunity.’ Another commented ‘The children were phenomenal! I sat there in awe of what I was hearing... Certainly an experience I will never forget’

The trust's vision is for each pupil to flourish and succeed, and that is what they did as they sang 9 songs from movies including The Lion King, Moana and The Greatest Showman, accompanied by an exceptional live band. The children shared some of their academic achievements during the year through a moving slideshow.

Showcasing their sign language skills, a highlight of the night was the children's performance of ‘Colours of the Wind’ from Pocahontas in which they sang and signed using British Sign Language the chorus of the song. This was important to both children and staff to promote inclusivity and diversity, one of Rise’s main visions.

A member of staff from one of the schools also praised ‘They have had firsthand experience of what it means to belong to Rise. Their confidence has blossomed in so many ways’, with another staff member saying ‘the children shared a love of music and feeling of belonging in the Rise family.’

Thank you to the superb sponsors; ideal care homes, Hormann and Johnson Astills.

Mark Cole, CEO of Rise Multi Academy Trust said “In total we welcomed an audience of over 800 and were overwhelmed with the positive responses received. It was a powerful example of how, as a Trust family, we can work together to achieve many amazing things, creating memories that will last a lifetime for our pupils.”

Julie Hopkins, Executive Headteacher of the Trust's Vale of Belvoir schools and project lead for the occasion, said: “I am so proud of how the children embraced this opportunity to work together as one big Rise family. They sang beautifully and it was clear to see the powerful impact the experience had on them and the audience. Special thanks to the many teachers who worked so hard to prepare the children”.