Sound of Music Star Sophie Bould, opens new Sixth Form and Performing Arts Centre at St Dominic’s

Headmistress Mrs Sandra White, Deputy Mayor of Stafford Cllr Mrs C Baron, Chairman of South Staffordshire Council Cllr Mrs P Griffin and school Directors joined guest of honour Sophie Bould in opening the new 1.5 million Sixth Form at St Dominic’s School, Brewood.

Welcoming the 40 guests to the official opening of the new sixth form, Headteacher, Mrs Sandra White said; “St Dominic’s set out with a vision to create a dynamic Sixth Form offering the highest standard of performing arts, drama, sciences and media, with state of the art facilities. We want to give our pupils the opportunity to achieve their highest potential at St Dominic’s.”

Invited to open the new Sixth Form and Performing Arts Centre, former St Dominic’s pupil Sophie Bould, who has just finished playing Liesel in the West End hit ‘Sound of Music’, reminisced about her own school days saying: “ St Dominic’s has been such an influential part of my life, the encouragement and nurturing that I received here set alight my passion for performing and has undoubtedly got me where I am today.”

Sophie added: “I have so many fond memories of being at St Dominic’s but one of my favourite’s has to be playing the Artful Dodger in Oliver. I had to master a cockney accent for the first time, I really cringe now to think what it must have sounded like!”

With special advice for the Sixth Form students, Sophie added: “ If you have a dream and you are passionate and disciplined then chase it, but always make sure that you have something to fall back on because you never know when you might need it.”

Guests at the Sixth Form were treated to a special performance of the medley Sister Act by the choir of St Dominic’s School, conducted by Mrs Brenda Arnold.

The Sixth Form girls then guided guests around the new Performing Arts Centre with library, music and drama suite and full recording studio before being treated to a buffet in the girls common room, aptly named the ‘Pink Room!’

The afternoon closed with a burial of a time capsule, filled with current school uniform, a school badge, a CD of the girl’s choir and St Dominic’s literature. Sophie added her own memories, a music book and some school photos.

Head girl Stevie Ellis ended the afternoon by saying; “The highlight of my day has to be meeting Sophie, she is an inspiration and a fantastic role model for us all - it just shows that with the right leadership, guidance and determination you can be whatever you want to be.”