In the film School Of Rock, teacher Jack Black attempts to infuse pupils with his love of loud music by teaching them classic eighties tunes before taking them on a fairytale journey to stardom.

Taking inspiration from this, staff at Pool Hayes Arts and Community School in Willenhall decided to run their own scheme and last night the fruits of their hard work was shared with a 100-plus audience.

Youngsters shunned the chance to play at their own school site in Castle Drive and opted for a real award-winning rock venue.

Around 15 acts performed at the Robin 2 in Bilston for their first annual rock show and really wowed the crowd.

Read the full story in the Express & Star. 

In the film School Of Rock, teacher Jack Black attempts to infuse pupils with his love of loud music by teaching them classic eighties tunes before taking them on a fairytale journey to stardom.

Taking inspiration from this, staff at Pool Hayes Arts and Community School in Willenhall decided to run their own scheme and last night the fruits of their hard work was shared with a 100-plus audience.

Youngsters shunned the chance to play at their own school site in Castle Drive and opted for a real award-winning rock venue.

Around 15 acts performed at the Robin 2 in Bilston for their first annual rock show and really wowed the crowd.

Youngsters had taken part in a 10-week rock school, similar to the recent TV reality show featuring Kiss singer Gene Simmons and the movie starring Hollywood’s Jack Black. Teacher Paul Costello said the night had been a huge success and staff now planned on running the rock school every year.

Highlights included headliners Edelweiss Pirates, who will also perform at the Rock ’n’ Pop Festival at Birmingham NEC next week, and 11-year-old Reyna Washbrook who performed a rousing guitar solo.

Mr Costello said: “It really was fantastic. There were about 15 acts. We have been teaching rock music to anyone who wanted to learn really and the climax of that work was this gig. They have been taught by musician Mark Rowley who plays regularly at the Robin. He looks like a guitarist and I guess he is our Jack Black. It was a wonderful atmosphere. The children were trying to create their own mosh pit at the front.”

It wasn’t just a showcase of their musical talents as many of the youngsters took fashion inspiration from their heroes such as Killers, Razorlight and Snow Patrol.

Head of music Steph Dufty said: “One of the highlights was a cover version of Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars by Elliott Morris and Carl Willetts. It was brilliant. But a lot of the pupils had written their own songs.”