Hear our Voices

Last week, our Year 5 pupils from Linthwaite Clough and Meltham Moor Primary Schools took to the stage at St. Bartholomew's, Meltham, delivering a spectacular performance of eight opera songs alongside professional musicians. This marked the culmination of their term-long partnership with Opera North, a project that has truly enriched their educational journey.

Throughout the term, the project has been integrated into the Year 5 curriculum, with pupils taking part in structured workshops, professional coaching sessions and performance preparation. It's been wonderful to see our students gain exposure to high-quality arts education whilst developing essential skills in confidence, teamwork and cultural awareness.

The educational benefits have been remarkable. Our pupils have enhanced their vocal technique, improved their public speaking confidence and strengthened their collaborative learning skills. They've engaged with complex musical concepts whilst developing the discipline and performance standards you'd expect in professional environments, skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.

James Roberts, headteacher of Linthwaite Clough, highlighted the importance of these partnerships: "As individual schools and as part of the Together Learning Trust, we believe a truly rounded education goes beyond the classroom, offering experiences that inspire creativity, build confidence, and bring communities together. We are committed to continuing to provide meaningful cultural opportunities like this for all our pupils now and into the future."

Professionals from Opera North put on a stunning performance

Liz Woodfield, headteacher of Meltham Moor, emphasised why accessibility matters: "We know how important this is to some of our families who won't have had the opportunity to experience live theatre before. Seeing their children perform opera alongside professional musicians is truly special and opens doors to a world they might never have accessed otherwise."

The performance drew a fantastic turnout from the local community, reinforcing how our schools serve as cultural hubs in their areas. The project has strengthened connections between families, schools and the wider community whilst giving pupils genuine experience of performing for an audience.

Looking ahead, the schools are working on a three-year funding strategy to make high-quality arts education a permanent part of what we offer. Following reflection on this Opera North partnership, future collaborations might include working with organisations such as Northern Ballet or Northern Jazz Orchestra. Our cultural capital offer will maintain a solid high arts programme and we'll be evaluating each project to select the most appropriate professional partners for the years ahead.

This flexible approach ensures we can keep providing these exceptional opportunities whilst maximising the educational impact across multiple Year 5 groups.

This successful partnership reflects our commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences that go well beyond traditional classroom boundaries, supporting our mission to inspire all young people to achieve their potential.

For more information about the project and future funding opportunities, visit www.spacehive.com/lc-mm-operanorth

Student smiles at the conductor during rehearsals