South Tyneside school children off to London as film club up for national award at ceremony hosted by David Walliams

Pupils from Dunn Street Primary School in Jarrow will experience the glitz and glamour of the red carpet in real life as they enter the running for the Into Film Club of the Year award.

Kayden Hennigan, 10, Ryan Jennings, 8, Brad Hayman, 10, Holly Scott, 8, David McGeary, 8, Cole McGeary, 7, and Lilly Craven-Patience, 9, will all attend an awards ceremony, hosted by David Walliams, at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London on March 18.

The pupils beat hundreds of entries to be shortlisted in the under 11s category.

The film club, run by teaching assistant Jane Baxter, makes a wide range of films accessible to pupils, as well as fundraising to cover the costs of travel expenses for them to attend screenings.

In November 2019 every child at the school was able to attend a free film screening as part of the Into Film Festival.

“There are many of our children who do not get the opportunity to visit the cinema with their families,” said Mrs Baxter.

“There really are no words to express the gratitude that we as a school feel in seeing the children's faces light up, listening to them laugh and talk, engage wholeheartedly in fun lessons and discussions, and watching them interact animatedly with each other.”

Assistant head, Nicola Noble added: "We are thrilled to have been shortlisted. Many thanks go to Mrs Baxter for initiating the club and spending so much time and effort into making it a success and to Mrs Moore for her support in running the club.”

Into Film is a national initiative to help improve young people’s engagement, creativity, speaking and listening skills.

Into Film's regional representative, Daniel Jarvis commented: "I had the privilege of visiting Dunn Street Primary School and it was a pleasure to see Jane's Into Film Club in action.

“There was a real sense that the club was a big part of the school, a club that the children got so much from."