Prom is planned in 6 days

After a Billingshurst school’s boat party prom was cancelled the community organised an impromptu shindig in just six days to let pupils celebrate. Headteacher Sarah Edwards said the offers of help were ‘overwhelming’.

Teachers at The Weald Community School, Billingshurst, created an extraordinary ‘pop-up prom’ in a school field last Thursday, July 22, with just six days notice – and with a week of teaching still to go until the end of term. The traditional Year 11 prom for 300 students on a London river-boat was cancelled at the last minute due to Covid-19. But senior staff at the secondary school were determined to celebrate a GCSE cohort who have already suffered severe disruption to their schooling for the past 18 months.

With a disco, local food vans, and ‘mocktails’ made by school canteen staff, the evening was an electrifying success due to the generosity of local businesses and parents. Firms donated a red carpet, Oscars style walkway, hay bales and more.

The highlight of the evening was the surprise appearance by former headteacher, Peter Woodman, who led the dancefloor to his favourite song, Billy Ocean’s When The Going Gets Tough. There was even a red carpet and Oscar style red roped walkway.

Headteacher Sarah Edwards said: “We had to make very last minute changes to our plans for our

Year 11 Prom this year due to Covid, but were desperate not to have to cancel completely and disappoint our students.

“We decided to put on a prom with a festival atmosphere on our school site – and all in the space of six days. It’s actually been quite overwhelming how people offered to help. It would simply not have been possible otherwise.”

For more about the prom see wscountytimes.co.uk