Children from this north London primary school were treated like celebrities when they visited Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, to play their steel pans at a big function organised by the British ambassador there.

The trip, a first for the school, was organised by the director of the British Council in Slovenia, Francis King, after he heard about the school through the Music for Youth competition. The children, under the supervision of Colin Dowland, the school’s music manager, stayed at the ambassador’s home, a Swiss-style mansion in the mountains, went sight-seeing, and played in several secondary schools as well the central square in Ljubljana.

Dollis Junior started teaching steel pans five years ago and now about 45 children out of 460 play, taught by Rachel Hayward. The school also has a choir and wind and string bands.

Snaps by Colin Dowland and Marie Wall