HUNDREDS of Hampshire school children took part in Rock Challenge 2019 last week at Southampton Guildhall for six nights of music and drama.

The venue hosted three evenings of secondary school battles, followed by another three for the junior school competition.

Winchester college Peter Symonds came second on the opening night, beaten only by Redbridge Community School's 'It's Just One Straw' performance, which explored themes of plastic pollution in the oceans.

Symond's students impressed judges with 'One Hit Is All It Takes', which looked at the controversial topic of recreational drug use, and highlighted that no one truly knows the damage it may cause to them.

In third place was The Henry Beaufort School, Winchester, with Words Will Not Define Me, which followed themes of society’s affect on young people.

Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh, took fourth spot with 'Without You', confronting the devastation caused by war and the families left behind.

During the second half of the week, groups from Fair Oak Junior, Colden Common Primary, Lanesend Primary, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary, Blackfield Primary, Valentine Primary, Farleigh and Portway Junior School and Damers First School took to the stage for the junior rounds.