Alice Witherow, Headteacher at Benton Park Primary, gives her account on how the endeavours of another school inspired her staff and pupils to sing.
Three years ago there was very little singing at Benton Park. It wasn’t because we didn’t want to sing or because we didn’t know how to sing, it was just that there were so many other priorities. But that was all to change when Miles Wallis-Clarke, the head teacher of Hotspur Primary School, a Platinum singing school suggested to our Heaton Schools Partnership that we should put on a concert at Newcastle City Hall.
I can still remember the first singing practise. A disillusioned set of Y6 boys refusing to participate and a slightly chaotic round led by staff (myself included) who were not always clear about what they were doing or how to lead or teach singing. But with support from Miles who came to school and supported us to teach the songs, we began to assemble a choir who, encouraged by the promise of performing on a big stage and some time out of school, went to the City Hall.
I don’t think that first year our performance was particularly wonderful but we had worked exceptionally hard to get there. Listening to the other schools was inspiring and watching our new singers experience singing in the large choir composed of all the schools was very emotional. We were so proud of them and they in turn were proud of themselves! Parents told me how enthused they were by the event but for staff a new perspective on singing had been awakened. They saw what other schools could do – and if they could do it, then we could too!
Three years on and the impact is obvious. The school choir is highly attended and the singing assembly on Wednesday mornings is an established part of the school week. Hotspur Primary really helped enable us to sing with enthusiasm, joy and proficiency. It is a most effective model of school improvement, one that raised standards of achievement for all pupils, improved standards of teaching and gave curriculum opportunities that were not previously available. The pride on the children’s faces, the level of engagement and obvious enjoyment will be remembered by all the staff and most importantly by the children.
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How have you inspired singing leadership in your school? Have you had outside help, or do you have a particularly enthusiastic individual within your staff? Do all teachers partake, or a select few? Let us know your thoughts by leaving your comments.
