Topsy-turvy time in store for TV charity

TEACHERS cross-dressing and performing cartwheels across the stage will be among the fund-raising efforts at a Derbyshire school in aid of Children in Need.

Pupils at Alfreton Grange Art College are sponsoring their teachers to take to the stage and perform hits from musicals such as the Rocky Horror Show and Fame.

Sixty performers, including staff and pupils, will take part in tomorrow's sell-out show, set to raise about £1,000 for the BBC TV charity.

Year-11 pupil Josh Morley will join ICT teachers Nathan Oxford and Kevin Bacon in stockings and suspenders as characters from the Rocky Horror Show musical.

A further 20 teachers will perform a cartwheeling routine from Fame.

Year-10 pupil Rowan Prince will dress up as Whoopi Goldberg and join the school choir in performing a song from blockbuster movie Sister Act.

Dance and drama teacher Vicky Callaghan, who has helped organise the show, said: "The atmosphere in the school is electric – everyone is really excited."

Other events across Derbyshire include leg-waxing in front of pupils by six members of staff at Ilkeston School, including assistant head teacher Morgan Stephens and deputy head Rob Bray.

Mr Stephens said: "From what I've been told, the students can hardly wait to see it – we'd probably raise another £1,000 if we let them rip off the wax themselves!"

At Morley Primary School, there is a pupil takeover by youngsters who successfully bid for staff roles.

Head teacher Kate Marsland said: "The teachers are expecting to be expelled and be ordered to do extra maths."

Elsewhere, Burton College is hoping to top last year's £3,634 by donating a day's proceeds from the hairdressing and beauty salon. Clad in fancy dress, students will offer a range of treatments.

Students Michael Smart and Yasmine Smith, who are doing a national diploma in Health and Social Care, raised £233.16 in a mock wedding ceremony.

Michael was sponsored to dress up as the bride, while Yasmine raised cash by being bridegroom.

Meanwhile, local rock and punk covers band Murder of Crows will perform at Derby High School at 7.30pm, with audience prizes for best rock costume and air guitar moves.

Than band are playing for free and all proceeds from £5 tickets go to the charity.

Staff at Derbyshire Dales District Council's four leisure centres at Ashbourne, Bakewell, Matlock and Wirksworth will swim, run, row and cycle the equivalent distance from John O'Groats to Lands' End – 603 miles.

Elsewhere, Oakwood and Chaddesden brothers Paul and Phil Dyer will join mutual friend Andrew Wibberley in running from Derby to Ilkeston carrying collection buckets.

In Spondon, eleven-year-olds Georgina Briggs, Louise Tilley, and Miranda Purnell, who are pupils at West Park School, raised £50 by taking part in a charity car wash.

Children from Jo Jingles pre-school music and singing club will also be dancing on stage for BBC cameras at Leicester's National Space Centre.

Anyone wishing to join in should call 01283 791067.