THE arts were certainly on the timetable for year nine pupils at a Newton Aycliffe school.

Pupils took part in an innovative careers event at Greenfield School Community and Arts College, which held the year nine Opportunity Awareness in the Arts event for the third year.

It is aimed at raising the awareness of pupils about qualifications, training and employment opportunities in the arts.

Greenfield was the first school in the North-East to receive specialist status as an arts college, and has developed a school ethos regarding the arts.

The school is an active supporter of the principles of lifelong learning. Through its community arts and education facility, the Greenfield and Community and Arts Centre, it offers a range of adult learning and leisure opportunities.

The two-day event was opened with the help of four year ten pupils from King James I Community School, also members of Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans, who performed a short piece called Our School, an extract from the theatre group's current production, The Pitheaps.

The performance provided year nine pupils with an insight into how they can use the arts as a development tool.

More than 13 individuals and organisations supported the event, volunteering their time to work with small groups of the pupils. They include artists Judith Parker, Eddy Hardy, Sharon Simpson, Peter Simpson, Claire Deighton, Liz Anderson, John Melvin, Rob Robson and Gareth John; Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Cleveland colleges, the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Woodham Community Technology College, and Newcastle's Dance City and Folkworks groups.