SCHOOLCHILDREN from across Dorchester and the surrounding area came together for a musical performance inspired by the football World Cup.

Students from all schools in the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership (DASP) joined forces for a World Cup Anthems performance at St Osmund’s School in the county town.

The performance was the result of a project supported by the national ‘Singing Strategy’, which encourages students to get stuck in and enjoy singing.

It involved 20 students from each of the 13 first schools, three middle schools, and upper school that form the Dorchester Area Schools Partner-ship, meaning a total of over 340 students.

For many of those taking part it was their first experience of being part of a singing performance on such a grand scale and for some it was the first time they had sung in a concert.

The students sang World Cup themed songs including Eye of the Tiger, Firework, Hit the Road Jack, We Will Rock You, I Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Wavin’ Flag.

Ben Trevorrow, music teacher at the Thomas Hardye School, said: “It was wonderful to see students from all the local schools performing together.

“Singing is such an important part of children’s development, and I am sure that the younger singers would have been greatly inspired by their older colleagues in the middle schools and at Thomas Hardye.”

He paid a special thanks to Jenny Deacon, who arranged all of the music, and to the music coordinators and classroom teachers at the schools who directed many of the performances.

Talent from the DASP schools will be on show again when they come together again for the World Cup Prom on Saturday, June 21 from 6pm at St Mary’s Middle School in Puddletown.

Tickets cost £7 for adults or £5 for concessions and are available from the DASP music office on 01305 259721 or by email at music@dasp.org.uk Under 4s can go free but will need to sit on laps.