Tawd Vale High School pupils learned the art of filmmaking

Feb 9 2012 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

THIS week, Nostalgia goes back to January, 1983, when the children at Tawd Vale High School moved into the hi-tech era while also trying their hand at film-making.

Pupils at the school were only too happy to rush back to the classroom during their spare time.

When they were there, they held a regular film club under the guidance of arts teacher Peter Wilfred.

Having just completed their first animated film, the group were then putting the finishing touches to a live action musical set in an American college in the 1960s.

From a teaching point of view that would be the end of the project, but there were plans for a possible screening for other pupils.

The club was now in its second year and had 12 members.

Apart from camerawork, which was done by Mr Wilfred, the 12-13-year-olds have handled the different tasks – from screenplay to music and direction – under their own steam. “They really enjoy their work,’’ said their teacher at the time.

He added: “It helps them learn the value of working together as a team and basically it is an extension of art.

“Television is an important part of their culture and this develops that.”

Mr Wilfred gained his film-making experience at college and hoped to expand the interest to a newly-formed class.

Tawd Vale High School was also being used as a test case for the whole county on the use of computers.

County chiefs at that time believed that eight computers was the best number for any one school.