Juggling, plate spinning and stilt walking are not normally on the curriculum but students of a St Albans school found out what it was like to run away to the circus last week.

Samuel Ryder Academy held circus skills workshops for students followed by a full big top performance in the grounds of the Drakes Drive school.

The week-long series of workshops enabled Reception and Year 1 children in the primary school and students in Years 7 to 9 in the secondary school to take part in expert-led sessions.

They learned how to master acts including juggling, plate spinning, Chinese ribbons, feather balancing, stilt walking, diabolo, tight rope walking, walking globes and unicycling. The workshops helped the students to learn a multitude of skills which include balance, hand eye co-ordination, social skills, confidence building, problem solving and teamwork not to mention the art of being able to perform the act they are learning.

They were followed by a PTA fundraising event last Tuesday in a Big Top on the playing field. A performance for primary children and their parents raised over £1000.

Chair of the PTA, Mun-Li Boswell, said: “The event was a great way to round off ‘circus week’ at the primary school. Not only did the children (and grown-ups!) have a brilliant time, it was fantastic to see how the evening brought the school community together.”