Students from Lees Brook Academy helped get residents at a Chaddesden care home in the Christmas spirit.
Jayne Jackson, who teaches the Post 16 catering courses at Lees Brook Academy, said the experience was also a real help to the students who got to experience serving people and learn about other catering opportunities for when they complete their courses.
“It’s fantastic for them to be able come here and speak with residents and also get experience of catering opportunities in different places,” she said.
Residents of the Gables Private Care Home in Morley Road were served mince pies made by Post 16 catering students while the school choir entertained them with Christmas songs and musical numbers.
From Jingle Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas, to Eye of the Tiger and When I Grow Up from Matilda, more than 20 students from Year 7 all the way up to Year 11 kept the residents clapping and singing along.
There were also solo singing performances from several students, and a dance number to Night Fever by Year 8 student Emma.
And while residents were enjoying the songs, Level 2 and Entry Level 3 P16 catering students served them mince pies, which the Level 2 students had made as part of their course.
Student Danny is studying his Entry Level 3 Catering Course at Lees Brook Academy’s Post 16 Centre, and travels from the Royal School for the Deaf in Derby to do the course.
He said he had enjoyed meeting the residents and chatting to them in between songs.
“I really enjoyed meeting the residents to find out more about them,” he said.
Resident Pru said she had thoroughly enjoyed listening to the songs and, as a former teacher at Derby College, enjoyed seeing the students.
“It’s been wonderful. I’ve loved all the singing, especially the Christmas songs, and talking to the students has been fabulous,” she said.
GCSE Music student Georgia said she appreciated being given the opportunity to perform as part of the school’s wide range of opportunities available through its enrichment programme.
“Being given the opportunity to perform to a live audience is really helping me develop my growing confidence, as I want to do this as a potential career in the future,” she said.
Emma Oldfield, music teacher at Lees Brook Academy, which is part of the Archway Learning Trust, said the school choir had enjoyed going out into the community and entertaining them for over an hour.
“As a school we really love being part of the community and days like this give us the opportunity to meet people in our area and allows the students to share some of the skills they have been learning and practising. I’m really proud of the way the students performed and also chatted to the residents. It was lovely seeing the audience clap and sing along and I hope they enjoyed the songs and the mince pies.”
Care home manager Jayne, said the visit was a real highlight for the residents and staff.
“Visits like this really help to bridge the gap between youngsters and the elderly. They love seeing young children and find out how they are progressing through life. It is really good for them to see new faces and talk to the young people.”
