Private School News

Polam Hall Models Take to the Catwalk for Charity

Students from Polam Hall School in Darlington became would-be Agyness Deyns and Claudia Schiffers and took to the catwalk to raise money in aid of The Teenage Cancer Trust.
More than 40 students modelled a range of casual and more formal outfits from a selection of national retailers and local bespoke designers. Proceeds from the event, which totalled more than £1,000, are to be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) Unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. The TCT Unit, which was opened in October 1997 with six beds, is being expanded at a cost of £1.9m.

The charity was chosen because one of Polam Hall’s Sixth Formers, Laurence Whiteley, was a patient there while having treatment for bone cancer.

Fashions on display during the two-hour show included clothing from a mixture of High Street names and a number of local stores and designers including Leggs, Object Trouvé, Cheeki, Bertie, Kiltz, Kate Atkinson, Guru, Geoffrey Gillow, Officers Club, Harriet Crossland, Top Shop, Joseph M, Chestnut and Heart & Soul.

Also taking centre stage were designs from Revamp, a clothing business set up by Polam Hall pupils. This business studies group has already made its mark locally as it won the inaugural Bannatyne’s Bright Sparks competition where nine teams from schools in the town went head-to-head in a Dragons’ Den-style contest. Among the judges was one of the stars of the TV show, Duncan Bannatyne.

Revamp buys clothes from shops including Oxfam and eBay as well as receiving donations and then customises the items making them unique and stylish. The restyled clothes are then sold to fellow students.

Polam Hall former student Ellie Riley, creator of the online Oh! Riley collection, also provided outfits for the fashion extravaganza.

Marie Green, Headmistress at Polam Hall School, said: “Polam Hall’s annual charity fashion show is a great learning experience for our students as well as being good fun. It teaches them about event organisation and logistics; the whole evening is put together by members of the Upper Sixth Form. The school is delighted to have raised so much money for such a worthy cause with the show’s success all down to the hard work and creativity of our students.”