More than 200 year seven students tooted, strummed, and plucked their musical instruments as part of a music programme backed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Newham Recorder: Students peform at Lister Community SchoolStudents peform at Lister Community School (Image: Archant)

Pupils at Lister Community School, Plaistow, Newham, took part in the Music in Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST) programme which aims to bring an enriched musical experience to schools through regular tuition, theory lessons and performances.

Newham Recorder: Students peform at Lister Community SchoolStudents peform at Lister Community School (Image: Archant)

They each played together for the first time on Wednesday, October 7, at the school in St. Mary’s Road, which is the first partner school in the scheme begun at Highbury Grove, Islington, this April.

MiSST director Truda White said: “This is a really exciting moment for Lister school and the charity.

“The impact already demonstrated at Highbury Grove where music has played a significant part in transforming the school from being merely effective to outstanding is irrefutable.

“We expect that over time the same will happen at Lister Community School.”

MissT is co-funded by the Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation with both contributing a total of £1million to roll the programme out to three additional schools, of which Lister Community is the first.

Headteacher Anthony Wilson said: “Learning a musical instrument is good for every individual student, and the experience of making music brings the whole school community together.”