St Julian's Primary School in Newport hosts SJPS Fest

South Wales Argus

6 days ago

St Julian's Primary School in Newport hosted its annual Glastonbury-inspired 'SJPS Fest' on June 30, which this year took on a West End musicals theme and saw all 716 pupils perform.
Luke Mansfield, headteacher at St Julian's Primary School, said: "Today was absolutely incredible.
"I loved every minute of it.
"I'm so proud of every single child who took part – their enthusiasm and the confidence they each performed with blew me away.
"It was such a lovely atmosphere throughout the day.
"I'm so thankful to our dedicated team of staff and fantastic PTA members, who go above and beyond to create such memorable experiences for our pupils.
"SJPS Fest just gets bigger and better each year."
Under clear skies, pupils took to the outdoor stage to sing and dance to songs from popular West End productions, cheered on by friends, family and the wider school community.
Staff arrived as early as 6.30am to transform the grounds into a festival site, complete with colourful bunting, tents and an array of activities and food stalls.
The festival featured a pizza oven, BBQ, ice cream machine and an inflatable play area, with third-party vendors adding to the day's offerings.
A 20-square-metre outdoor LED screen streamed the performances live, ensuring every attendee had a clear view of the action.
Mr Mansfield said: "A huge thank you must go to our amazing staff and dedicated PTA who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring the festival to life.
"From the crack of dawn, the team was on site transforming the school field to give a true festival experience – complete with inflatables, a catering village, a pizza oven, BBQ, and a host of external stall holders.
"One of the standout features this year was our giant 20-square-metre LED screen, which live-streamed every performance.
"It gave the day a real Glastonbury vibe and made sure every act had their moment to shine – even for those watching from the back.
"I was genuinely blown away by the enthusiasm, creativity and confidence shown by our children.
"It's clear just how much effort went into preparing their acts – and the support from teachers and teaching assistants was second to none.
"It was also fantastic to see so many parents joining us – thank you for taking time out of your day to come and support the children – your presence made the day even more special."
Families were invited to share in the experience, adding to the sense of community that defines the event.
Mr Mansfield added: "SJPS Fest is all about creating lasting memories, celebrating creativity, and giving children the opportunity to perform and express themselves on a big stage.
"Today, we achieved all that and more."
The school now looks ahead to next year's event, with preparations already underway.