HUNDREDS of pupils from across South Somerset attended open evenings at two of the region’s major secondary schools.

At Holyrood Academy in Chard, prospective students took part in a range of activities from concocting ice cream using frozen carbon dioxide, creating handfuls of smoke and using soldering irons.

More than 100 children attended Wadham School’s open evening in Crewkerne which featured a speech from two year seven pupils on their first three weeks at the school.

Holyrood executive principal Martin Brook said: “Students joining Holyrood next year will be doing so at such an exciting time of the academy’s development. We want to discover, nurture and develop every aspect of our students’ abilities and produce successful and fulfilled young adults as a result.”

Mrs Sam Davison, vice principal said: “The staff and I were thrilled by the numbers of prospective students and their families who attended the open evening. It was a delight to see so many informed and interested visitors.”

Wadham headteacher David Derbyshire spoke about the extracurricular activities including student trips, Children in Need events, the panto, the Christmas meal and The Rotary Chef Competition.

Visitors then had an opportunity to view the school facilities, meet teaching staff and view the work of pupils on student led tours of the school, which included a number of interactive displays.