A trip to London exposed students to the marvellous West End this week with a performance of Wicked, alongside a trip to some Escape Rooms and a class Debate.

Wicked

A magical trip to London whizzed ORA students at St Catharine’s into the mystical world of Oz. The enchanting performance of Wicked reveals the unknown tale of the Wicked Witch of the West, exploring her past to discover where her choices took her.

The performance combines exciting musical songs with a dramatic storyline, mesmerising students as soon as the curtains opened. Some enjoyed the thrill of the musical scenes, staring intently at the impressive choreography and incredible range of props. Many were captivated by the plot, interested to learn about the misunderstood background of the Wicked Witch of the West and some loved the special effects used to create drama.

Debate

An intriguing and relevant debate got ORA pupils thinking this week, as they discussed the role of the British monarchy. The group was divided into teams and students logically created arguments to convince the room of their opinion.

One team decided that the monarchy are great symbols of the historical wealth of England, providing extensive revenue through the tourism generated. The other team countered by suggesting that the royal family cost more than they produce, living an outdated lifestyle of luxury and having little governmental involvement.

Both sides of the argument were fascinating and it was great to see such high levels of involvement in the activity.

Escape Rooms

Magnifying glasses and detective coats were dusted off as ORA pupils at St Catharine’s entered the mysterious Escape Rooms. Designed with hidden clues and riddles to enable visitors to escape, the rooms are a test of logic and cunning as teams race against time to find an exit.

Our impressive ORA group at St Catharine’s proved their skills this week, as they searched under props, inside drawers and on the walls, keen to escape before time run out. Egyptian, Secret Agent and Armageddon-themed rooms kept all students entertained as they explored and solved puzzles. Fortunately, all our groups managed to escape in time – all under an hour – and posed with pride for photos of their success.

Tonight, Graduation arrives at St Catharine’s and we can’t wait to see the photos ORA students take; check back next week to see how they get on.