Leek Arts Festival

Artsfestival is back with

AMoorlands town’s already vibrant and exciting entertainment scene is enjoying amassive boost this Spring asthe town’s annual arts festival brings more than 40 extra events for culture lovers to enjoy. Leek Arts Festival was cancelled in 2020 and never even got off the ground in 2021 because of Covid-19. But this year it’s back with abang thanks to adedicated team of volunteers who have worked hard to put togetherthe programme of 41 attractions including national, international and local artists. Events include gigsfeaturing, among others, Scottish songstress and former

Fairground Attraction star Eddi Reader; surrealist comic Boothby Graffoe, madcap musical comedian Scott Doonican, godfathers of folk-rock Fairport Convention, the fantastic

Tri Nations Trio -supportedbythe Leek U3A

African Drummers -local rockers Climax Blues

Band, internationally renowned jazz flautist

Gareth Lockrane, concerts on the bandstand at Leek’s Brough Park, comedy nights at the Foxlowe Arts Centre and at Leek Cricket Club, afree folk music day;and even a demonstration of floral art. Leek Arts Festival chairman Phil Edmeades, said: “When we were forced to cancel the 2020

Scott Doonican

festival just days before that year's programme of events was abouttokick-off we expected to be back in business the following year. “But Covid had other ideas and we had to scrap any idea of afestival in 2021 as well. Happily, the situation has improved enough to allowustogoahead in 2022. “We’re excited at the ideaofpeoplecoming along to festival events and enjoying themselves, particularly as nearly half of everything in the programme is available free of charge.”

Free events in the 2022LAF programmeinclude The Tri Nations Trio, The Rondino String Quartet and the LAF Folk Day, together with Blues and Americana sessions, ska events and acoustic gigs featuring local musicians at pubs across the town.

Phil added: “There are also opportunities to see artists at work in their own studios, an arts trail showcasing fine art, ceramics and photography in the windows of shops and businesses throughout Leek and amajor exhibition Astound 22 -ofwork by Gareth Lockrane

Buxton &Leek College has launched new courses as part of their awardwinning adult education programme, many of which are completely free or part funded.

Gain aqualification that helps you in your current job, learn something completely new or even change the direction of your career.

Subjects on offer include AAT Level 2and 3 in Accounting and Bookkeeping, bo oth of which are free for anyone earning up to £18 8,525.

Boost your conf fidence, your knowledge, an nd your CV.

If you left school without achieving agrade e C(4) or above in GCSE English or maths, then you can retake them at Buxton &Leek College for free.

The college excels in this area and for successive years has exceeded the national GCSE resit achievement rates. In 2021the college was awarded aTimes Educ cational Supplement FE Aw ward for its ‘outstanding GCSE resit provision.’ Functional skills prog grammes are also available.

Learningisdelivered in a vari iety of ways depending on the course including on campus, distance learning incorporating scheduled online lessons, and in some cases ablended approach of both online and face-toface.

All adult courses are open to anyone aged 19 years or over and many of the courses are free or partfunded. The collegealso holds regular Open Days at Buxton and Leek campuses where you can find out more. The next Open Day is on Saturday, May 14 between10am and 1pm.

For more information about BLC’s adult education programme, or to apply online, go to www.blc.ac.uk

Brighter, moresustainable education announced forThe Prep at Denstone College

InSeptember2021, Denstone College welcomed anew, younger audience. The Prep at Denstone College successfullyopenedfor pupils aged from 4years old upwards. With The Prep doing so well and reaching over 100 pupils in the first year, Denstone College has announced ‘Phase II: Developing Education’.

The Prep aims to have smaller class sizes and more inspiring space. Lotte Tulloch, Head of Denstone College said “Following amostsuccessful launch in September, we have seen numbers and interest in the Prep grow beyond all imagination.

It truly is achieving its aim of being the prep school of choice for parents in the Midlands. We have now started breaking ground to deliver the much anticipated second phase of building work which will be ready for opening in September 2022.”

The developments will include extralarge open-plan classrooms with dedicated spaces for art and creative, innovative science and technologydiscovering spaces. Along with this, space will be provided for individual support and ahigh-end ICT computer suite. The work will benefit the entire age range and thepupils will be excited to see their new lighter, brighter educational spaces.

The exciting developments have both an eco-friendly and pupil wellbeing approach at the core of theinvestment. The inclusion of skylights along with sustainable materials being used, means that The Prep will be doing more to have less impact on our planet. Inspiring pupils with conscious actions to have less impact on the beautiful environment around us.

Bespoke tours of Denstone Collegeand The Prep at Denstone College can be arranged by emailing admissions@denstonecollege.net or calling 01889 591415.