A SCHOOL has been helping students to unravel some of the mysteries of the Eastern culture.

Richmond School - which won Government approval to develop as a centre for the performing arts earlier this year - enjoyed an enthralling two-day study of Indian culture last week.

The school invited a number of traditional artists into the classroom to bring some aspects of the culture to life.

Workshops with dancer Dr Swati focused on classical Indian dance to the modern beat of Bhangra while Shahbah Hussain led some inspiring drumming lessons with Tabla, used in both traditional and contemporary music.

Director of arts Richard Jones said: "With Indian culture so much in the media at the moment, it is right for us to explore the continent's vast culture and the differences between the East and West.

"Our Year 8 students all visit a Hindu temple as part of their religious studies course anyway, but we see all the arts as very important subjects - not only for their own sake but also for the ways in which they can support learning in so many other ways. Such work will be very much a feature of school life when we officially become a specialist performing arts school in September."

As a specialist arts centre, the school was given £700,000 of extra funding to place even greater emphasis on the arts.