EXPLOSIONS in Science with Jon Tickle, the new sixth-form building, the Bohunt Little Big Band, tales of expeditions, real-life meerkats and a religious studies teacher bathing in the ’Ganges’ drew the largest crowds ever to the Liphook school’s open evening.

More than 500 families flocked to the school to enjoy a "festival of learning".

The atmosphere was electric with prospective students and their families immersing themselves in a range of exciting activities and experiences, guided and encouraged by current year seven and year eight pupils.

The evening was a chance for parents to experience the wealth of opportunities, from outstanding academic provision to expeditions to Mongolia and Greenland, as well as learn about how the house system allows individual students to be known, nurtured and challenged and hear about how results are rising - despite a declining national picture - due to the teaching that has led to Bohunt’s Teaching School designation.

It was a superb opportunity for students to bring their talents to the local community, including the Big Band, who recently played the Haslemere Fringe, the iPad Band who performed to thousands in London, the winner of the HSBC Mandarin speaking competition, students who presented on the main stage of the Royal Geographical Society, Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award holders and the national semi-finalists of the Schools Basketball Cup.

Science once again put on a fantastic display of learning, ably assisted by Jon Tickle who returned to Bohunt once again to perform a fascinating show of experiments and demonstrations.

Visitors could interact with robots in IT, exercise their deductive powers in solving the English department’s murder mystery and test their arithmetic and problem-solving skills in Maths’ number-based fairground games.

Other highlights included a chance to explore the globe interactively in humanities, debate global affairs with the student politics group and get stuck into the outdoors with demonstrations and talks from both staff and students involved in the varied outdoor education programmes.

Headteacher Neil Strowger said: "Our outstanding examination success, TES Award and featuring in Tatler’s 2016 ‘Top State Schools’ list has come about for a number of reasons, but in large part it is due to a culture of innovation, the provision of fantastic learning environments and a wealth of opportunities that develop leadership, ambition and self- esteem, as well as outstanding attainment.

“The level of interest in Bohunt during the open evening, and the superb summer results are testament to the hard work of our students and staff in making our ambitious educational vision reality."

There was a further opportunity to experience Bohunt’s ethos of “Enjoy – Respect – Achieve” in action. when the school welcomed prospective A-Level students and their families to an open evening for the new Bohunt sixth form, which opens in September 2017, last Tuesday.

Bohunt boasts it will offer both outstanding teaching and exceptional enrichment opportunities to students from all schools in the area.

The school is opening a brand new, bespoke building and offering an inspiring range of courses at key stage five.