Pupils perform Yule favourites for city shoppers

YOUNGSTERS from St Giles School in Derby have been spreading festive cheer by performing for shoppers at Intu Derby.

Members of the school choir kicked off the shopping centre’s annual Christmas choir competition with a signed performance of three festive favourites, including Last Christmas, a hit for Wham! back in 1984.

The youngsters signed the performance using Makaton, a form of communication which uses signs and symbols. It’s commonly used at St Giles, Derby’s only special primary school.

They wowed the judges from Derby and Derbyshire music partnership, Castlefields Church and Intu Derby with their performance, which included the use of a bubble machine and hand bells.

It was the second consecutive year in which St Giles’ choir have performed in the competition, which saw Derby High Primary, Duffield Meadow, Weston-onTrent and Park House Primary and others compete in the grand finale.

The winning school received a cheque for £500 from Intu Derby.

Karen Brownhill, communications practitioner at St Giles School, was delighted with the choir’s performance.

She said: “We were given one song to learn by Intu Derby and chose two ourselves.

“We’ve been learning them since September, so months of hard work have gone into this performance.

“All the children were amazing. I’m so very proud of them.”