Pupils spread joy across world

CHART success . . . front, from left, Amelia Nolan (8), school technician manager Nigel Mulligan who wrote the song and Jessica Smith (9) with fellow pupils who sang on the recording

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A CHADDERTON school's bid to snowball the Christmas charts has seen them spreading festive cheer and joy around the world.

St Herbert's RC Primary School recorded a song as a memento for parents and as part of the fundraiser to help them create a sensory room.

But not long after "Christmas is Coming" was released on a three-track CD it was catapulted into the music stratosphere thanks to air time on local and regional radio stations and social media.

Now, the angelic voices of St Herbert's pupils have been heard across the globe in countries such as Mexico, Vietnam, America and Italy.

The youngsters have also appeared alongside the song's creator, school technician manager Nigel Milligan, on That's Manchester TV and have been approached by ITV's This Morning and Songs of Praise regarding possible slots on the shows in the run up to Christmas.

Fantastic

Nigel says one big final push could even see the single entering the download charts in time for December 25 as it's also available on iTunes, Amazon and Google.

"What started out as a souvenir for parents has just absolutely taken off," said Nigel, a musician who used industry contacts to help record the song and get it digitally distributed.

"It's been shared so many times and it really did well after it was promoted on BBC Radio Manchester's Facebook page.

"We just need all the people who've liked it and shared it to really get behind us and download it and it could realistically compete with some of the big names and stand a chance of getting in the top 200 in the Christmas charts which would be fantastic.

"A lot of songs out there are covers but ours is an original song which was mainly written by the children and I think that's what makes it stand out.

"Everybody is absolutely buzzing and the children are beside themselves with excitement at the thought."

You can download "Christmas is Coming" by following the links on the school website at stherberts.oldham.sch.uk.

The school has been fundraising all year to create a £35,000 state-of-the-art sensory room, which will help pupils with educational needs develop skills and provide a safe space where children can learn away from the classroom.

The sensory room is set to include an interactive floor projection system, lights, a colour wheel, bubble column and light-up ball pool.

To donate to the school's fundraising total, visit justgiving.com/stherberts-school or text HERB16 along with the amount to be donated to 70070.

The school has nearly sold out of CDs so there is a massive push on the downloads now in he run up to Christmas.

There's been lots of exciting things over the past week, the school has been on Rev962 Breakfast and Key 103 played the Song too. That's Manchester TV featured the song on the news headlines and have included the whole song in their Christmas day show.