Shropshire private school gets ready for 'entertaining' house singing competition

Students at a private school in Shropshire are preparing for their annual singing competition, which this year is celebrating Sir David Attenborough.

Pupils at Wrekin College in Wellington, Telford, are getting ready for the House Singing Competition 2026.

The competition is described by the school as one of the most popular events of the year.

This year’s event will take place tonight (October 15).

During a hectic two-week rehearsal period, Wrekin College’s students must master in their respective houses a song involving everyone, as well as a part song featuring between four and nine singers.

Different themes are chosen every year, and this year school bosses have decided to choose the theme of the natural world in honour of Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.

Wrekin College has a strong connection with Sir David, as one of its alumni J.W. Lester worked with the now legendary broadcaster.

This year, pupils will have to choose a song which either has a natural world link in the title or in the band or artist’s name to fit the theme’s brief.

The new headteacher at Wrekin College, Steve Green, is thrilled that the school will be celebrating Sir David this year.

He said: “Wrekin has a very keen sense of community, but I would say that House Singing is probably one of the events in the academic year where it is most palpable.

“It is also an opportunity where pupils can see how powerful it can be to be part of something bigger than their own individual effort, but how each part, no matter at what level of ability, is vital.

“I really am enjoying seeing how keenly contested this competition is and how invested the children get, because this is about the entire house working together.

“Children who have all kinds of skills, interests and abilities coming together and all wanting to take part.”

He went on to say: “It will be a wonderfully entertaining evening, and I know the children will produce an event which will help remind us all of how important the work of Sir David is and how we all need to think more about the contribution we can all make to looking after our planet, no matter how big or small that may be.”