Young West Rainton musicians hit the high notes for official opening of primary school’s new steel band practice room

Young musicians from a County Durham primary school have been showing off their talents at the official opening of their own dedicated steel band room. West Rainton Primary School set up a steel band three years ago to give pupils the chance to learn a new musical instrument and enjoy making music together.

Its steel pans have so far been stored in a side room off the school hall, meaning they have to be taken out and packed away at the start of every band session, which shortened the amount of time available for the pupils to practice and play.

The school launched a fundraising campaign two years ago to pay for a new modular building to be installed into the school playground in which the pans could be permanently set up and made available for pupils to play whenever they wanted.

An £8,000 grant from regional employer the Banks Group’s Banks Community Fund took the school past its £25,000 fundraising target at the end of last year, with the 40 square metre modular building being carefully lifted into place last month by Portable Offices UK, who have also contributed to the project.

The official opening event also served as a celebration of the school’s forthcoming centenary year and featured food cooked by the children in their design & technology lessons, singing performances by each class and several interactive stalls.

The 20-strong steel band is the only one of its type in County Durham and is made up of children between Year Three and Year Six, with a number of former pupils also coming back to the school for Friday evening rehearsals to keep their places in it.

Led by Holly Fagan of the Durham Music Service, the band started off using a borrowed set of steel pans, but now has its own set which feature the school crest.

After debuting at the school’s annual picnic in 2023, the band has given a range of public performances, including at the launch of Banks Homes’ Cathedral Meadows residential development, which is being built across from the school.

It will also be playing at the forthcoming Durham Miners’ Gala for what will be the third consecutive year and at Bowburn Hall for Ferryhill School’s end-of-year Prom.

The school is hoping to capitalise on interest in the band from local residents by forming an adult steel band which will also be able to use the new practice room.

Alison McDonough, headteacher at West Rainton Primary School, says: “Having the steel pans permanently set up in their own dedicated practice space will make such a difference to our practice sessions and will also mean pupils can play them whenever time allows, which should help them improve their skills much more quickly.

“The band has quickly become a key part of school life and the confidence that the members get from creating music together is clear for all to see.

“As well as helping them develop their musical skills, the steel band also teaches pupils about things like teamwork, relationships and rhythm, all of which come out in the many successful performances they’ve given across the county.

“The interest the band has created in the village is also something we want to capitalise on and it’d be great to see an adult steel band using the new room in the future.

“Everyone is so excited at the new opportunities our band room will offer, especially as it has been put in place in time for our centenary year, and we’re grateful to everyone who’s played a part in turning an initial idea into such a fantastic new facility.”

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, adds: “This is a brilliant project that will help make this thriving school band even more successful and we’re very pleased to have been part of making it happen.”