Manorfield Primary School

Manorfield Primary School is located in Poplar, Tower Hamlets, London.

The school steelband was formed in September 2013 and is called Manorfield Steel Band.

It was formed to compete in Classorama, a schools’ steelpan competition held in July of each year. Two steelpan groups of five players were formed in each year group from Year 3 to Year 6 (40 players).

The steelbands rehearse for 45 minutes each week and are taught by steelpan tutor Kyron Akal. The school is honoured to have Mr Akal as their teacher because he started Classorama as a competition with his students at Sir John Cass’s Foundation & Red Coat Church of England Secondary School in 2007.

Year 3 to Year 6 steelbands played at a 'Morning of Steelbands' themed assembly in the spring of 2014. They also performed at the Year 2 sports day. In the same year Manorfield Steel Band was placed fifth out of the eight steelbands who entered Classorama - their first steelband competition.

Pupils at Manorfield are exposed to a wide range of live music which includes trips to concert venues and also meeting and listening to great musicians. This forms part of Manorfield’s commitment to broaden the cultural outlook of its pupils.

The music teacher at Manorfield recognises that playing steelpans requires a high level of concentration, musical memory, ensemble awareness and coordination. It is also a great way to stretch more musically able pupils.

Manorfield is currently considering an increase in the number of pupils for the steelband groups.

“The children love it!”

Information supplied to My Panyard by Manorfield Primary School