TEACHERS have voiced their love for state schools and free education this week by releasing an original song performed by a choir of trade unionists, parents and children.

After the success of last year’s Christmas number one hit Bridge Over You by the NHS Trust Choir, members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) decided to join up and sing to save our schools too.

The initiative was quickly taken up by over 100 amateur singers, from newly qualified to retired teachers, many of whom had never been particularly active in the union.

National Union of Teachers Choir founder Jackie Schneider told the Star the idea came after finding herself “beyond frustrated with the appalling situation of our schools.”

The teacher of over 25 years said: “I was fed up with not being able to do anything about [academisation, testing and increasing marketisation].

“There’s an endless petition culture where we can sign stuff and shuffle along. I guess I thought really ‘we need a protest song’.”

After being sent the lyrics to US folk singer Woody Guthrie’s classic This Land is Your Land, Ms Schneider recruited two former teachers now running a choir and recording studio to help her with the project.

The call for singers was placed on social media and quickly went viral. Within three weeks, the song This School was recorded.

Teachers from across England, including London, Nottingham and Brighton, came to take part in the choir.

A special contribution came from award-winning beatboxer MC Zani, who provided the percussion track.

The video for This School has already been shared with over 1,000 people, less than 24 hours since its release.