Forty pupils from Fernhurst Primary School struck a chord at The Royal Albert Hall in November, in a once-in-a-lifetime choral extravaganza. The children joined 600 other pupils from across the UK to raise the roof – and more than £80,000 – for Barnardo’s children’s charity.

Under the guidance of music teacher Ana Lazar, the children learned a repertoire of six songs at school in preparation for the event.

In London, the day began with rehearsals conducted by the acclaimed Benjamin Pope, who inspired the young singers. A show-stopping moment was a special performance of the song Proud alongside the singer Heather Small.

Year 4 pupil Hunter stole the show when interviewed by Natasha Kaplinsky. He said that his favourite part of the day was "seeing The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,” which earned him cheers from across the hall.

Hunter received a gingerbread toy as a token of the experience and decided to name it "Albert," in honour of the iconic venue that hosted their performance. The event was not only a remarkable achievement for the children of Fernhurst Primary School but also a testament to the power of music in bringing communities together.

Headteacher Jennifer Thornton said: “We were delighted to offer our pupils at Fernhurst this chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on a large stage.

“For them to be able to travel to London and perform at the world-famous Royal Albert Hall was a fantastic adventure. We hope that this opportunity will have inspired them to follow their passions and talents as they go through life.”

Barnardo’s has been providing life-changing support for vulnerable children and campaigning for their rights since it was founded in 1867.

The charity said: "We've been changing childhoods and changing lives for over 150 years, and we'll be here for as long as we're needed.”