School classes set for Latitude Festival
15th July 2015
Hundreds of primary school pupils are set to attend the Latitude festival in the first initiative of its kind.
Former Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher, cult band Portishead and indie rockers Alt-J will headline the arts and music event which is expected to attract about 30,000 people to Henham Park, Suffolk, this weekend.
They will be joined by about 350 primary school pupils and about 50 secondary pupils from more than a dozen schools across Norfolk and Suffolk.
It is believed to be the first time a major music festival in the UK has opened itself up to school trips.
Pupils will take part in activities designed to complement the national curriculum, as well as being able to enjoy the acts.
Organiser Sharon Reuben said: “We are hugely excited to be the first UK festival to create a programme of hand-picked activities that complements the national curriculum, and allows school children to participate in our vibrant event.
“Latitude offers everything from cutting-edge theatre and world class dance, to poet laureates and scientific debate.
“Part of this is about tackling a culture of exclusion. We’re very aware that some kids already come to the festival and it seems a shame that others miss out.
“Some of the schools taking part are very small so in those cases the whole school is coming along.”
The school trip will take place on Friday and each pupil will pay £11 with teachers going free. Children and teenagers normally pay a reduced rate but need to be accompanied by an adult paying £192.50 for the weekend or £77.50 for a day ticket.
The festival has been awarded a quality badge by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, meaning schools can be sure it meets health and safety and safeguarding standards.
Special events laid on for schools include studying forensics and geology and music and theatre workshops.
Festival-goers will begin arriving at Henham Park on Thursday with the three-day event getting properly under way on Friday.
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