REACH for the Stars - and they did, staff and students alike brought the end of school term to an electrifying finish.

It was an amazing evening for all those involved in the Kirkbie Kendal and Kendal College joint entertainment extravaganza, dancing and singing their way towards raising money for the Kendal senior school's bid for science status.

Ann-Marie Coulston's Stagecoach set the tempo Western style in cowboy hats and music by Madonna; year 7's Tegan Shankley gave a spirited solo performance of the theme from Titantic, singing and playing guitar, and Laura Ellwood's acappella version of Wind Beneath My Wings showed what a terrific voice she has.

We had a breathtaking blast of choreography from Kate Ruddick and Fiona Simpson in Geri Halliwell's It's Raining Men and the funky threesome of Laura Clayton, Joanna Mason and Hannah McDonald performed All Saints' Never Ever, with David Callaghan keeping the beat.

One Way Down were hard and heavy, opening the second half amid clouds of dry ice, and Janine Wallace and Rebecca Wilson were outstanding with a slick dance routine to Samantha Mumbo's I Always Come Back To Your Love.

Song and dance flowed fast and furious, slowing nicely with Peter Robinson's silky voice in a David Gray number accompanied by pianist Beth Helsby.

Upping the pace, Asha Aplin, Katie Pearce and Lottie Mock truly surfed the Westmorland Hall stage with their rendition of Atomic Kitten's Whole Again, and Fiona Simpson received one of the biggest cheers of the night singing Dido's Here With Me.

By now the whole hall was swaying as James Palmer led the foot-stomping school junior jazz band.

Head teacher David Smart was so laid back he was almost horizontal, crooning centre stage in two Sinatra classics including the wonderful Fly Me To The Moon.

And last, maybe, but not least, was nine-piece staff band, The Last Straw.

Geoff Cater plugged in his Telecaster guitar looking like he was born for the stage and James Palmer performed as you've never seen him before, Jagger-esque leaping around the stage in Gimme Some Lovin'.

It was a cracking night all round, with Asha and her two mates judged top act of the 22 taking part, and giving a rousing repeat performance which had the audience on its feet.

It was more like Wembley Arena than Kendal Leisure Centre.

A great send off, too, for teachers James Palmer, who has taken a post in France, and Alison Thompson, moving to Giggleswick.