We recently took 49 pupils from Years 8 to 10 to see Dear England, a gripping National Theatre production by James Graham. The play explores leadership, pressure and national identity through the story of Gareth Southgate and the England men’s football team. Pupils thoroughly enjoyed the performance, and for at least half the group it was their first time experiencing live theatre. It proved to be a memorable introduction to the power of performance and storytelling. Members of the public praised the pupils’ behaviour and engagement, saying they were a credit to the school. We are incredibly proud of how they represented us and look forward to offering more opportunities like this in the future.