A student choir made up of three Borehamwood schools has started rehearsals for its Children in Need performance.

Pupils from Hertswood Academy, along with primary school pupils from Cowley Hill School, in Winstre Road, and Kenilworth School, in Kenilworth Drive, have been selected by producers to appear on television for the Children in Need special this November.

Television producers contacted Hertswood Academy at the beginning of term to find out if the school could put together a mixed gender choir from students of all abilities.

Hertswood Academy's head of music Phil Hobbs auditioned hundreds of keen singers for the 100-strong choir, with half the students coming from Years 5 to 9 at the academy.

He said: “We’re very pleased to have been asked to take part in this. We were looking for a catalyst to get our students into a choir so the promise of being on television has certainly helped.

“They aren’t looking for a professional choir that has been trained for the stage and for the television – they want a choir that people can relate to and that is what we will bring.

“It’s very exciting for us to have this opportunity.”

Leading the choir is Anne Fairbrother, choral director from Hertfordshire Music Service, who will be pulling the three schools together before the big day on November 14.

Pupils will rehearse for two afternoons a week, with one rehearsal being within their own school community and a second joint rehearsal bringing the three schools together at the Ark Theatre.

Headteacher Peter Gillett said: “Hertswood Academy is very proud to be associated with such an important event and to play a part in helping raise money for those children most in need.

“Our students are very much looking forward to performing in the choir to an estimated audience of 10 million viewers on November 14.”