RUBBING shoulders with celebrities is a sure way to encourage these summer school pupils to strive for success and achieve their dreams.
Up and coming pupils at Bispham High School have joined older students during a summer school to help them integrate into the next stage of their education.
A fortnight of free summer activities gave Year 7 pupils, who are due to start in September, chance to try out different workshops covering drama, dance, art, music, sports, languages, literacy and numeracy.
But it was the trip to Manchester where they bumped into entrepreneur and television star Lord Alan Sugar and footballer Rio Ferdinand which got top marks from the youngsters.
Natalie Markham, 13, who has helped at the summer school every year since first attending when she was 11, said: “It was an amazing experience to meet them, especially as I get involved in lots of enterprise activities at school.
“We ran up to them and asked if we could have our photograph taken with them.
“They seemed nice.”
Another pupil, Hollie Shone, who has also helped each year at the summer school, said: “I was so excited to meet Rio Ferdinand as I’m a big fan and love watching him play.
“Lord Sugar said it was nice to meet us.
“We’re disappointed summer school is coming to an end as we will miss everybody. Natalie and I have taught a dance to a few of the groups.
“We are looking forward to making our new friends in Year 7 welcome in September.”
Phillip Smith, from the Bispham Road school, said the summer school is a great way of helping the new Year 7 pupils to make new friends.
He added: “Bispham High School has been introducing a large number of its new Year 7 pupils to secondary school by way of a fortnight of free summer activities.
“The children have had opportunities to take part in drama, dance, art, music, sports, languages, literacy and numeracy workshops, as well as circus skills and trips to Liverpool, Manchester and Singleton Maize Maze.”
After visiting Tate Liverpool and the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool, they went to see Starlight Express at the Liverpool Empire.
Another city stop saw them visit the Museum of Science and Industry.
Mr Smith added: “During a visit to the new National Museum in Manchester, some of the children got an opportunity to meet Lord Alan Sugar and Rio Ferdinand.
“They were both filming for the new series of The Apprentice at the museum there.
“It was a great opportunity for the pupils to meet them.
“Seeing what they have achieved in life can really help inspire our pupils.”
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