Star date: 12th July 2015

CHATSFEST – SALFORD SCHOOL GOES ROCK AND RAVE 

Chatsworth High School got the festival spirit this week with five days of Glasto-related activities, from didgeridoo workshops to a full blown rave in the school hall complete with an LED dancefloor. `ChatsFest' was initiated and organised by the pupils themselves, with the help of staff, community groups and other school students in the area.

Full details here...

Glow sticks, face paint, tie dye t-shirts and the whole festy culture came to Chastworth High School in Eccles this week for the five day ChatsFest. The annual event involved a huge build up by the school's students who were involved in the preparation, from making banners for the bands, to creating their own outfits and even sorting out security and catering.

"It's part of their silver arts award for which they have to plan an event, so there's a big lead up to this when they do work-related learning and assist with planning and lots of other things to do with the festival" explains Tracey Holmes, Learning Mentor at Chatsworth High School.

"All the ideas have come from the students" she adds "The festival originally came to the school after some of our students went to a Rock It! gig in Bolton and asked if they could do something similar here."

During the week there were all sorts of culture activities, from didgeridoo, samba and hip hop workshops, to bracelet and mosaic making, circus skills and graffiti art forays. Bands including the 505s, The Pulse and even `Lady GaGa' entertained the young people, while pupils got involved from New Park High School and St Patrick's RC High School, including the well received St Patrick's Big Band. Meanwhile, on Thursday there was a full blown rave in the school hall, complete with a huge LED dancefloor.

As the bands played and the music meandered around the school, the pupils danced, waved their banners and got high on hope and creativity, despite the rain that forced ChatsFest to move indoors this year.

"It's been great and all the staff have worked really hard staying behind after school to make it successful" says Tracey "The governors and lots of community groups have come in to help too, while the Booth Charity have part funded the event. I like to give our students real hands-on work experience. We want our pupils to be high profile members of our local community; they have an awful lot contribute."

ChatsFest definitely created a positive Salford vibe in the area...