DOORS open on Monday for the first Magdalen College School Arts Festival.

From Monday, the school in Cowley Place, Oxford, is hosting two weeks of events, ranging from plays and concerts, to sporting contests — most open to the public.

Several thousand people are expected to attend one or more of the activities, including all 700 pupils at the school.

The festival is the brainchild of headteacher Tim Hands, who started a similar event in Portsmouth when he worked at a school in the area.

Mr Hands said: “Now exams are over, we wanted to emphasise the fact that we don’t just believe in doing well in exams, but also in taking part in extra-curricular things.

“The idea has been to try to give pupils extended opportunities and allow them to develop, while bringing in professionals to work alongside them.

“It is also about opening up to the public and to other schools.”

The festival will start with an all-day percussion workshop for pupils on Monday. That will be followed by a workshop on The Tempest by John Cairn, then a concert performed by the Magdalen College School choral society and string orchestra at Magdalen College chapel.

Other events include performances of Nicholas Nickleby and The Tempest, a Battle of the Bands evening, a concert at the Sheldonian (to include a new specially-composed choral work and an art exhibition.

Tony Benn will speak at the school on Thursday.

The Tempest — which pupils have spent just three weeks rehearsing following the end of their exams — will be performed on the River Cherwell, which runs through the school’s grounds.

Barney White, 17, who plays Caliban, said: “It is a massive undertaking to put on a play in three weeks.

“It is very ambitious and exciting.

“I hope the public will come and see we are not segregated from the city.”

Peter Allen, 17, from Iffley Road, will play the jester Trinculo. He said: “The festival opens Magdalen up to the public and invites people in.”

For details of events and how to book, go to mcsoxford.org