Sparsholt and Andover College students shine at Winchester Cathedral’s Education Service

Sparsholt and Andover College students took centre stage at Winchester Cathedral’s Education Sunday Service this week. The annual service which included presentations by Sparsholt horticulture students and a musical and dance performance by Andover College students, celebrates the Cathedral’s and Diocese’s involvement with education and the work of students, teachers, academics, governors and policy makers at all levels of education.

Tim Jackson, College Principal was joined by College chairman Michael Coombes and President Lord Selborne. During his address to the congregation he spoke of the focus at Sparsholt in developing professional and technical skills for careers in the land-based industries. He also mentioned the growing and ever successful Andover College, which last year achieved 100% pass rate for A Levels and is in the top 10% and 25% in the country for value added at AS level and A Level respectively.

Proudly commenting on the service he said: “I was delighted that students and members of staff were able to participate in this year’s Education Sunday event at the Cathedral. It was an opportunity for our Foundation Degree Horticulture students to present to the congregation their design brief for the Dean Garnier Lady Chapel garden at the Cathedral and also for our Andover College Creative and Performing Arts students to present a stunning contemporary dance piece, with accompanying vocal and piano which was both poignant and breath-taking.

Andover College dance students performed a nature-themed piece inspired by creation. Seamlessly linking to their horticulture peers, using London Grammar’s song Rooting for You performed live with vocals and piano, the students usedall the space in the cathedral from the aisles to the stage.

The Dean Garnier Garden is a hidden gem – a tranquil and beautifully planted wall garden comprising of three sections. During the service Sparsholt Horticulture students shared and explained their designs for the Lady Chapel Garden, the section of garden which has much wider planting and is designed to give a variety of form and colour throughout the year by the use of a careful mix of flowering and foliage plants.

Find out more about our Performing Arts courses, rated Outstanding by Ofsted by clicking here

Click the video below to watch a clip of our Performing Arts and Dance students at the Education Service!