Chiswick School Glee Club Makes West End Final
35-strong team excels to reach last stage of national competition
The Chiswick School Glee club in action
January 22, 2026
Chiswick School is celebrating a major performing-arts triumph after it secured a place in the finals of the Jack Petchey Glee Club Competition 2026, one of the most prestigious youth performance contests in the country. The achievement follows a standout performance in the London semi-finals, where the group impressed judges and audiences alike with their musicality, creativity and stage presence.
The school was invited to join the competition in September and quickly assembled a 35-strong team of singers and dancers. Working at pace, the students created two original mash-ups that blended four well-known songs into fresh, ambitious arrangements. The first piece, arranged by music teacher Mr Robinson, wove together Damien Rice’s Delicate with Jason Mraz’s I Won’t Give Up. The second combined Ed Sheeran’s Castle on the Hill with Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon. Both pieces demanded advanced musical skill, with overlapping melodies, tight harmonies and intricate timing that pushed the performers to new levels.
Choreography is a central element of the competition, and Chiswick School’s dancers once again proved why the school has built such a strong reputation in this area. Under the direction of Miss Knight, the group developed expressive, high-energy routines that elevated the musical arrangements and showcased the school’s award-winning dance talent. Many of the performers were part of the team that won a regional dance championship last year.
For the semi-final, the Glee Club travelled to a theatre in North London, joining ten other schools from across the capital. Performing to a packed auditorium, the students delivered their pieces with confidence, precision and infectious enthusiasm, earning warm applause and praise from the audience.
At the end of the evening, only three schools were selected to progress to the grand final. Chiswick School’s name was among them, prompting cheers from students and staff who had gathered to hear the results. The group will now take to the stage of the Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End in May, performing alongside finalists from across the country.
The team will now perform again in May at the Shaftesbury Theatre
The success marks another milestone in what has become a remarkable run for Chiswick School’s performing-arts department. In 2024, the school won the National School Drama Award, followed by victory in the Great Big Dance Off in 2025. Reaching the finals of a national choir competition in 2026 cements its growing reputation as a genuine “triple threat” in drama, dance and music.
Staff say the achievement reflects the dedication and resilience of the students, as well as the commitment of the teachers who support them. The school community has expressed immense pride in the Glee Club and is now eagerly looking ahead to the final.
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