Sing Up Day 2026 saw thousands of children taking part all over the world and singing We get up again by Emily Barden (you can watch schools singing the song here!).
We caught up with one of our participating schools, Hawthorns Primary, where teacher Liz Ewen shared how they celebrated the day and how singing has shaped their school community.
Learning how to 'bounce back'
'Our children have loved working on this song about resilience, growth, and embracing life’s ups and downs. The message at the heart of it is one we hold close in our school vision: challenges are not barriers, they’re part of our journey.
When we talk about resilience with our children, we remind them that it means bouncing back, trying again, accepting advice and keeping going even when things don’t go our way. And what better way to explore that than through music?'
The magic of discovery
'One of my favourite parts of this journey has been watching pupils discover things about themselves. Some children have found voices they didn’t even know they had. Some have stepped forward bravely to sing out with confidence. Others have supported their friends, encouraged one another, and lifted each other up. That is the magic of music; it brings out strengths we sometimes didn’t realise were there, both as adults and children.
Two pupils, reflecting on their experience, said:
“I love singing at our school because it makes me feel happy and full of energy. When we sing together, it’s like our voices join to make one big, amazing sound. I enjoy learning new songs, especially when we add actions or when the music makes everyone smile.”
“Singing helps me feel more confident too. Even if I’m a bit nervous at first, once we start, I forget about everything else and just enjoy the music. I like performing with my friends, because we all support each other and try our best.”
“I love singing We get up again because it makes me feel brave. When I sing it, I remember times when things felt too hard, like when I couldn’t do my writing or when I fell over on the playground. But the song helps me think, ‘I can keep trying!’ And when I try again, it gets easier and easier. Then I feel really proud of myself, like I did something amazing.”'
Feel-good chemicals
'Within the Hawthorns Empowerment Approach, we often talk about the four feel-good chemicals that support our wellbeing. And the wonderful thing about these is: singing naturally boosts all four of them.'
Research has shown that singing can support the release of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins — chemicals linked to motivation, emotional wellbeing, social bonding and stress relief.
'Every rehearsal and every performance has filled our school with those little sparks of happiness and connection, whether it be in the classroom or all together in the hall. It’s science, but it’s also something you can see on the children’s faces when they sing.'
Fostering community spirit through song
'Singing, on the whole, has done more than fill our classrooms with music. It has helped build resilience, confidence, and a sense of togetherness. It has given our children a voice, sometimes quite literally!
It’s reminded them that they are part of something bigger, something joyful, something full of hope. Our school choir have recently sung in the community at local shopping areas and a residential home; they love spreading joy to others and seeing people uplifted by their love for music.'
Exploring the Sing Up Day themes across the curriculum
'On Sing Up Day, teachers at Hawthorns used the song within PSHE, reading, art and of course music to bring a specialness to the occasion using inspiration from our We get up again assembly plan.
Pupils looked back and shared what they explored in their own words, switching from actively singing to listening.
“When I was making my art about myself, I listened to a song that made me think about all the things that make me me. The music helped me choose the colours, patterns and shapes I wanted to use. I learned that artists don’t just paint what they see—they paint what they feel.”
“In my picture, I used bright colours like yellow, orange and pink because they reminded me of the happy parts of my life, like playing with my friends and going to the park. I used big, sweeping brushstrokes to show energy and excitement, almost like the music was dancing on the page. I also added some cooler colours, like blue and purple, in the corners. These showed the quieter, calmer moments when I like to read or think.”'
Takeaways
As Hawthorns Primary shows, singing can go beyond just working towards learning a song and the end performance. It can also be about the magic that unfolds along the way. One great way to extend the impact of a song is to revisit a song’s theme across the week. A simple reflection question, a short piece of writing, a discussion in PSHE, or an art response can help children connect the message to their own lives and turn a musical moment into deeper learning.
Sing Up Day, as well as Sing Up’s rich teaching and curriculum resources, provide schools with a simple but powerful framework to create these special moments where pupils can learn, connect and thrive.
Whether it’s singing events that bring people together and spread joy or engaging cross-curricular learning, you’ll find what you need in our vast library.
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