The project, led by local musician Fred Claridge of Let’s All Create - who has worked with the school for eight years - brought staff and pupils together across several weeks of workshops.
Music teacher Tom Streamer and teaching teams supported the sessions, with almost every sound on the recording contributed by a child at the specialist school for 4–19-year-olds with complex learning needs, including autism and communication disabilities.
Pupils collaborated on lyrics and melodies, then took part in recording and filming for the final video. The finished track foregrounds the school’s values - kindness, curiosity and belonging - and describes neurodiversity as a “superpower”, celebrating different minds and the supportive environment created by staff and students.
“Over the years I’ve seen how powerful music can be for the students here,” said Fred Claridge. “This project gave them a chance to express who they are and what the school means to them. The most special thing is that almost everything you hear in the song was created by the pupils themselves.”
Mr Streamer added: “This was a real whole-school effort. The children helped create the music, play instruments and shape the message of the song. It perfectly captures the spirit of Billing Brook School.”
The video has been published online to coincide with Autism Awareness Week to promote greater understanding and to ensure every young person feels valued for who they are.
