A group of students have recently travelled to the beautiful city of Liverpool to explore two of the universities. All students are currently studying Drama and Performing Arts subjects at King James and this was an opportunity for them to see what progression routes are available when they leave Sixth Form. Here, Amy Connell, one of the participants, talks about the experience.

"On the first day we were treated to a guided tour of LIPA - the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, which was founded by Sir Paul McCartney of The Beatles. LIPA is an amazing place, everything they teach is related to the Arts industry, from Acting, Dance, Music and Sound Technology to Set Building and Costume Design, which is my own personal interest.

LIPA has an amazing array of facilities with five public performance spaces, incredible sound recording studios and a great Student Union! Our tour was given by Simeon, a music graduate who showed us around and talked about student life and what we could expect if we apply to study at LIPA."

"We then walked into the city centre and Mr Shearer took us to The Cavern Club, made famous by The Beatles who were discovered there and where hundreds of famous musicians have since played. Walking down the dark spiral staircase into the club, I wasn't sure what to expect and I was surprised to find a vaulted cellar with multicoloured lighting and rock memorabilia on the walls, a stage where a solo artist was singing, as well as another room with a performance stage where a video of Sir Paul McCartney was playing. The Cavern Club is an amazing place to visit if you are ever in Liverpool!"

"On the second day we visited Liverpool Hope University, and after a tour of their Creative Campus and the student accommodation, we listened to a talk by their head of Drama, a retired actor who starred in the very first performance of John Godber's "Bouncers', which all Drama students at King James know well from our GCSE work! This was followed by a workshop with a Drama graduate called Tom, who worked with us on some devised Drama using physical theatre and sound. The whole trip was a great experience - it has given us all an insight into what it would be like to follow a creative course when we go to university."