MONTHS of rehearsals will come to an end when hundreds of students take to the stage for the Be Your Best Rock Challenge in Bournemouth.

Teams from seven Dorset schools will compete in the latest heat of the event, designed to inspire and motivate young people to make healthy and positive lifestyle choices.

Around 650 pupils from Highcliffe School, QE in Wimborne, Twynham and The Grange in Christchurch, Gryphon in Sherborne, Sir John Colfox in Bridport and the Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy will battle it out for a place in the next round.

There will also be demonstrations from Bournemouth’s Oak Academy and Corfe Hills School who now compete in the event’s premier league after success in previous years.

The event will take place on Tuesday March 1 with teams with as few as 20 members or as many as 135.

Teams have up to eight minutes to perform their chosen theme with every aspect of their performances devised , designed and created by the students.

The young people have been involved in everything from choreography and costume to lighting and set design.

Senior Event Manager, Samantha Eastwood, is looking forward to seeing what the schools will produce in this year’s Rock Challenge.

She said: “Every year we are amazed by the amount of time and effort that schools put into creating their Rock Challenge performances.

“Schools learn the importance of team work and perseverance as their many hours of hard work pay off in spectacular performances.

“This experience is the highlight of so many young people’s school careers and creates lasting memories for years to come.”

Involving more than 330 schools across the country this year’s UK Rock Challenge is expected to reach 20,000 young people between seven and 18 years old and around 38,000 audience members.