HUNDREDS of students were given a taste of college at a festival-style event.

WelcomeFest at Alton College saw pupils from more than fifty schools across four counties gather for taster lessons, talks and practical activities in the morning.

Then there was a chance to relax, make new friends and enjoy a free barbecue lunch and ice-cream in the afternoon.

Current music students were also performing, vying for the chance to play on the ButserFest Stage at Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival in August.

This is an annual event which enables the young people from the schools, which include The Petersfield School and Bohunt School, to explore their subject choices and chat to students and staff.

Exciting plans for the New College Day were unveiled to the visitors too.

This is a new approach to the college’s timetabling, grounded in academic research which proves that older teenagers learn better later in the day. The students will be starting at 10am from September.

The Battle-of-the-Bands was one of the highlights, judged by John Geoghegan from East Hampshire District Council and Alton town mayor cllr Dean Phillips.

Two bands were competing for the spot at Victorious – Haze and Loyd – and they were both judged good enough to win.

Isaac Longman described the day as “amazing”.

“The lessons were great and I feel more confident that I’ve made the right course choices for September,” he said.

Principal Sara Russell added: “We look forward to our unique event all year. Students tell us they thoroughly enjoy the structured morning in taster subject lessons run by our specialist experienced staff and then the chance to relax in the afternoon with festival style food and music.

“Our amazing student mentors are a credit to the college and they are always on hand to meet the new students.”

The next open days at Alton College are on October 5, from 3.30pm to 8pm, and on November 7, from 6pm to 8.30pm.