THE artistic achievements of students at a Loughton school so impressed producers at the BBC, that the students were interviewed for a high brow show on Radio 4.

For three years students at Roding Valley High School, in Alderton Hill, have been taking a modular course, called Expressive Arts, which features sport and leisure as well as music, theatre, photography and art - rather than a traditional art GCSE.

When all 170 year nine students passed the course, a team from the BBC’s Front Row programme visited the school to record a programme and talk to the children about their work.

Headteacher Geoff Mangan said: “For the last three years we have entered the Expressive Arts award, and we've been successful every year.

“It's year long project to show we are positive about the arts. They design things and hold projects throughout the year.

“It's a fantastic success, it really is, and it also counts towards GCSE scores.”

The Expressive Arts Award has equivalent status to a GCSE and the points awarded for it contribute towards the school's league table position.

To complete the scheme at silver level students have to achieve 12 credits in 120 hours of work.