SINGING has long been the key part of St John Fisher’s curriculum, and the school has recently been awarded Youth Music’s Sing Up Gold award.

The work, led by Year Five teacher and Key Stage Two music co-ordinator Grainne Archer, saw every member of the school community show a commitment to using singing to help further the children’s education.

There is also strong ties with Oxford’s Catholic secondary school, St Gregory the Great.

Pupils already sang every day, but Mrs Archer also had to persuade staff and parents to join in, and to create new songs with the youngsters.

She said: “In the early years, it helps them make progress with language, and it also helps with memory, confidence and concentration.

“It's a particularly good thing to do, because St Gregory the Great School specialises in music.

“It's fantastic for our children who go up there to be able to carry on with music.”

Mrs Archer, who has been a teacher at St John Fisher for seven years, added: “The children are fantastic here.

“They are a great joy to teach, and the team of teachers and teaching assistants is fantastic.

“They are so enthusiastic and full of life and are prepared to try everything. And the fact it is a small school means we get to know children really well across the school, and not just our own class.

“It is a family here, and I love the Catholic ethos.

“As a Christian, I like the fact we are able to celebrate the Christian faith. One of the best things about the school is that we help children to resolve friendship issues.

“When they have problems, we get them to sit down with the other person and talk about how to resolve it.

“It's very good preparation for life.”