A Braintree headteacher ensured that his Year 11 students left his academy 'Happy' by recording a hit video which is set to gain national attention
Trevor Lawn, head of Alec Hunter Academy, and his staff devised their own take on Pharrell Williams' 2013 track for the yearly Leavers video and it has proved a hit on YouTube - viewed almost 8,000 times.
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It continues an annual tradition, and involved all members of the school.
However Mr Lawn revealed it may not have been shown at all had it not proved as popular as it did
He told the Essex Chronicle: "The response from students, parents and the community has been phenomenally positive.
"We received so many requests for copies of it, that we eventually decided it would be easier just to put it on YouTube.
"In a strange way it seems to have given the school a boost, and put a smile on everyone's face.
"This is fantastic for our young people, who are fiercely proud of their school and want it to be portrayed fairly as the special place that it is, which is not always the case."
Mr Lawn also admitted the idea for the video escalated after they actually sat down and watched Pharrell's video.
"Originally it was intended just to show us all being happy after hours when everyone had gone home, but then I suggested that it would be funnier if it depicted us finding our 'happiness' in doing really childish things - hence the space hoppers, scooters, Nerf guns, etc.
The real star of the project is Tom Braybrook, our Media Technician and unsung hero, who spent a lot of time going around different departments over a period of about a week, getting them to 'perform' and then editing the footage
"Fortunately, we have a wonderful staff group, who throw themselves into things like this, give their time freely for our youngsters and I think the enjoyment and great relationships we share are very evident in the film. Plus there are a few showboaters like myself who clearly are enjoying it too much!"
