Singing superstar's visit to Cov school

IT’S not very often the mundanity of a school day gets punctuated by the arrival of one of the biggest music stars in the world, but this is exactly what happened recently in Coventry.

- By DANNY THOMPSON News Reporter

Just hours before he was due on stage to serenade 10,000 fans at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Friday (5 December), Ed Sheeran was interacting with city youngsters.

The star used the flyby visit to the city to launch two new music projects through his Ed Sheeran Foundation (ESF) in partnership with Coventry City Council project Coventry Music and the St Giles Trust.

Ahead of his show the Shape of You singer and his foundation spent the afternoon meeting pupils, headteachers, and representatives from Coventry Alternative Provision Academy, Cardinal Wiseman Secondary School, Coventry Music and St Giles Trust.

Laura Burtonwood, Principle of Cardinal Wiseman School, said: “We were delighted to welcome Ed Sheeran to our school today. His visit was an extraordinary source of inspiration for our pupils, showing them firsthand what can be achieved through hard work, creativity, and perseverance.

“Ed’s warmth, humility, and genuine interest in our young people made a lasting impact, and we are incredibly grateful for the encouragement he has given our school community and the wider Coventry community.”

During his visit, he introduced two new initiatives, Access to Music Industry and Your Voice, and heard directly from the young people who will benefit from them. This follows his visit to the city in January, when he met with Coventry Alternative Provision Academy which received new studio equipment funded by ESE, Barrs Hill School and the TIN Music and Arts.

Both Access to Music Industry and Your Voice will help ensure young people are provided with the relevant tools and support to pursue pathways in music and stay engaged with the school system.