More than 80 drummers and a brass section will create an exciting Samba sound heading up a colourful procession with dancers in dazzling costumes.

Rye College students have been working hard for months behind the scenes practicing drumming and creating costumes and props for the big day.

They were helped by textile artist and carnival expert Sandrine Case, who came over from Brighton to share her skills.

The College has already impressed big crowds at Brighton Festival earlier this year, when it took part in a street procession with a huge red dragon and striking devil masks.

Joining college students in Saturday's procession will be musicians from the famous London Kinetica, who opened the Beijing Olympics and perform at Notting Hill Carnival.

The carnival procession starts at 11.30am at Rye College moving through the Landgate up to St Mary's Church along the High Street then back to the school.

The College wants the whole community to turn out and join in the fun.
The procession will be followed by a summer fete in the college grounds.

The fete will include traditional game and side-shows, including throwing wet sponges at teachers, jousting with gladiators and target football.

There will be cream teas, a barbecue and bar and talented musicians from College bands will be performing live music on an outdoor music stage.

Performances will be taking place in a drama tent.

Saturday's carnival is part of Rye College's plans to become involved with the whole community.

It follows a remarkable turn-around for the school, which was placed on special measures, for failing standards in 2002.

Since then the school's fortunes have changed dramatically. It is now one of the most improved schools in Sussex with parents fighting to get their children in.

The College has had to increase its intake to meet growing demands for places.

Head Ann Cockerham said: ""Students have an incredibly rich experience here across all of the arts. We shall build on these successes.

"We have some exciting projects planned that will benefit our wider community in the course of the next four years.

"We want to make a positive contribution to our community and have a college of which we can all be proud."

Rye College is a Creative Partnerships Change School.

The Creative Partnerships group is working closely with the College for up to three years to support whole school development.