Gale Force theatre school students Moira Pain and Torin Lakeman, both aged 16, are ‘on top of the world’ after they became not only the first in the Isle of Man to attempt the Advanced Certificate in Language Arts (ACLA) set by the English Speaking Board (ESB) but also to both pass the examination with Distinction grades. The school’s founder and director Barbara Gale said: ‘I, too, was on top of the world when I learned of Moira and Torin’s outstanding success. This is a first for Gale Force and for the Isle of Man. ‘Gale Force students have a record of excellence at ESB exams but this is truly exceptional as the ACLA exam is equivalent to an ‘A’ level or International Baccalaureate qualification. To attempt the ACLA in itself is quite something, but for Moira and Torin to have passed with distinction the first time they sat the exam is a fabulous achievement. The work required to reach this standard is very demanding; months of studying and rehearsing culminating in a 15-minute talk, then a discussion of similar length with fellow students, adults and the examiner, followed by a detailed presentation. ‘Moira focused on traditional African music and discussed the past, present and future of the Gambia, regaling the audience with stories of her own experiences there and highlighting the contrast between those and the region’s harrowing past of poverty and slavery, then she concluded with a beautiful rendition of “Africa my Africa”. ‘Torin asked his audience how many of them would take the King’s shilling today as his talk centred on the First World War and posed the question “Oh! What a lovely war?” recalling the horrors of wartime and ending with a moving piece of drama from “Private Peaceful” by Michael Morpurgo when a soldier waits to be shot at dawn for cowardice. It was a totally gripping performance leaving not a dry eye in the room. ‘We were privileged to have as our assessor Mrs Marjorie Walker, one of the ESB’s most distinguished and senior examiners who generously praised the students’ high standard of performance and imaginative use of visual aids, and we’re hoping she will return in spring next year when several more senior students will be ready to face the exacting standards demanded of the ESB board. ‘Congratulations must go to all my students for their success in the 2011 ESB exams; not one of them achieved lower than a merit plus grade which is equivalent to 80 to 88 per cent. I’m sure Moira and Torin’s outstanding achievement will serve as an inspiration to other students and that more will now aspire to work towards similar grades and continue the tradition of excellence at Gale Force.’ www.galeforce-online.net ENDS