From page to stage: Ninestiles learners get a dramatic dose of Blood Brothers

Year 9 learners from Ninestiles, an Academy, part of the Summit Learning Trust, have taken their studies to the stage as they recently enjoyed a memorable trip to see Blood Brothers, the play they have been studying this half term. For many of the learners, this was their first time attending a live theatre production – a truly special occasion!

Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.

Part of the school’s commitment to providing enriching cultural experiences, this trip was also planned to ensure that learners have the opportunity to see the texts they are studying brought to life.

Over the course of the year, the school has secured more than 800 tickets for productions including Blood Brothers, Macbeth, An Inspector Calls, and A Christmas Carol. These outings are designed not only to deepen students' understanding of the material but also to encourage them to develop a love for literature and the arts.

The school’s English curriculum develops learners’ cultural literacy and provides them with a strong foundation in the world’s most important texts. By exposing them to a wide range of writers and thinkers, the aim is to prepare them to be educationally and socially mobile, ensuring that they leave Ninestiles, an Academy with the knowledge and skills to transform the future.

The ongoing theatre trips are just one example of how Ninestiles, an Academy works to:

• Provide access to timeless texts
• Build students’ cultural capital and vocabulary
• Enhance reading, writing, and critical thinking abilities
• Use assessment to drive progress and ensure learning is remembered

Through these experiences, the school ensures that learners not only excel academically but also grow as individuals.

Alex Hughes, Principal at Ninestiles, an Academy said: “This theatre trip is an example of how we bring the texts we study to life at Ninestiles. The opportunity to watch the plays performed on stage makes the material memorable in ways that learning in the classroom alone cannot.

"Experiences like this are crucial in helping young people develop both their cultural capital and academic skills.”