Children at Stanley Primary School in Teddington have revealed their pride at being involved in a viral YouTube video last month.
The school celebrated a successful Ofsted inspection by producing a music video where staff and pupils sang Take That’s hit Back For Good with alternative lyrics.
More than 5,600 people have watched Stanley is Good, written by head Ian Dickinson, with 84 subscribing to the school’s new YouTube channel.
Year 6 student Hal, one of the 80 children who took part, said: “I instantly put my hand up to get involved because I really wanted to do something for my school.
“Stanley is very friendly and fun and I was proud I could represent it.”
Classmate Scarlett added: “I don’t get to represent the school in any of the sports teams, so I really enjoyed this opportunity.
“I heard the original version of the song in the car last week and I think our version is much better.”
Sophie, another pupil from year 6, said: “A lot of other schools will copy us now, but they won’t get as many views as we have!”
The song’s lyrics recall ‘two days of high emotion’ when Ofsted visited Stanley in March, claiming staff had ‘demonstrated our values’ and ‘showed the best we could be’.
The chorus then follows: “Whatever they saw, whatever we did, they seemed to like it. They told us Stanley School was good.”
Students used professional recording equipment to create their version of the song before filming the video’s outside shots on a frantic afternoon last month.
Some admitted to embarrassment after watching the finished product in assembly, but everyone agreed involving children from each year group – including some from the Peartree Centre, Stanley’s specialist unit for children on the autism spectrum – had brought the school together.
One also joked he was confident the video could reach a billion views on YouTube.
Mr Dickinson, who sang the closing refrain, said: “A lot of schools celebrate Ofsted results by putting up a banner or writing in their newsletter, but people forget about those things quickly so we wanted to do something different.
“I’ve had a few headteachers from other schools tell me they thought it was a good idea, but I think there might be some teasing at our next meeting.”
Mr Dickinson also revealed rewriting popular songs has become a tradition at Stanley, explaining how each member of staff who leaves the school is given their own musical tribute.
“We’ll have to record another video with the kids if we get an ‘Outstanding’ report next time,” he joked.
“I’m Still Standing by Elton John might have potential.”
