Member Article

Education trust brings together region’s schools in VE Day inspired virtual choir

A North East academy trust has hosted a virtual school choir to bring staff and students together on VE Day.

189 pupils and some of their teachers from 10 schools across the region got involved by providing their rendition of ‘We’ll Meet Again’, a famous wartime song from the World War II era that also holds great significance during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Brendan Tapping, CEO at Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, said: “We are all missing normal school life, so we wanted to do something extra special to bring us together on a day that celebrates such an important milestone in our history.

“The song, We’ll Meet Again, might have been penned for those who had to remain apart during wartime but it’s very relevant to our current social distancing learning environment now.

“It was wonderful to see so many students from infants to sixth formers take part and demonstrate just how strong our entire school community is, especially during these difficult times.”

Schools both within the trust and those working closely with it from Hebburn, Jarrow, Peterlee as well as South Shields and Sunderland were involved in the event, which was led by Nick Conway, headteacher of St Aloysius RC Federation School in Hebburn and Mark Price, acting headteacher at St’s Wilfrids RC College in South Shields.

Local musician and singer Mike McGrother worked with the schools to put the song together and create a visual of photos of the students as well as photos of their grandparents who lived during World War II.

Nick Conway, headteacher at St. Aloysius, said: “What a fantastic rendition of a wartime classic that holds significant relevance with what we’re currently all experiencing. “I am so proud of the resilience, commitment and positivity demonstrated by all of our students during these unprecedented times in their education.

“It was lovely to hear students voices that can normally be heard in our lively dinner halls at lunch time - we look forward to those moments again.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Bishop Chadwick Trust .