Song doctor helps pupils hit right note
PUPILS have joined together to write a song celebrating the end of their years in primary school – with the help of a “songwriting doctor”.
Children representing six Church in Wales primary schools in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan will perform the song at their leavers’ service at Llandaff Cathedral in July.
The group of 12 pupils were helped out by songwriting doctor Larry Williams at St Paul’s Church in Wales Primary School, in Grangetown, where they came up with the title, lyrics and melody for the song.
Rebecca Morteo, headteacher of St Paul’s, said the idea behind the song – called God Is Leading Me – was for pupils to be more involved in the service.
Mrs Morteo added: “It’s amazing that in just one day these children have together written the words and music for a song.
“They have absolutely loved doing this and know that they have accomplished something very special.
“By the time children reach Year 6, they feel very passionate about their school – the fact that it is a church school and the values that it underpins.
“This song recognises these values and as well as saying goodbye, it also looks forward to the future.”
The song will be sent to more than 20 primary schools in the Llandaff Diocese for hundreds of Year 6 pupils to learn before the service.
Mr Williams teaches music three days a week at Rhydypenau Primary School in Cardiff and spends the rest of his week travelling around different schools helping children to write songs.
He said: “Songwriting is a great way of linking literacy and music in schools.”
Canon Edwin Counsell, education director for Llandaff said: “The Year 6 leavers’ service is a great event for our primary schools, because each one of the 600 children who fill the cathedral has reached a significant stepping stone in their young lives.
“The words of the song are super, summing up the experiences and the learning that they will take with them as they prepare for new schools and new experiences in the future.”