"A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR WHOLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY"
For our Key Stage 1 schools’ project, Geoffrey Gets the Jitters, Britten Sinfonia commissioned music from James Redwood and Fran Lobo to create a show based on the book by Nadia Shireen. In April 2025 we gave the show its first outing, performing it for and with more than 2,500 pupils in 15 Peterborough schools. ALEX KEY, Music Lead at Hampton Lakes Primary School, reflects on the experience of the project for pupils and staff.
When the Peterborough Music Hub contacted me about inviting Britten Sinfonia into our school for a magical musical experience, I jumped at the chance. Having enjoyed their projects before, I knew this would be a unique and enriching opportunity for our pupils. The experience has been truly memorable, blending storytelling, music, art and emotional learning in a way that resonated with everyone involved.
The project began with a CPD workshop for teachers, centred around Geoffrey Gets The Jitters, a delightful book by Nadia Shireen. We learned the accompanying songs, including the uplifting "Hey! I’m Okay!" taught by the brilliant Fran Lobo. From the very first note, we knew this was going to be something special. My colleagues and I left this session smiling, singing and bursting with enthusiasm.
“an explosion of music and fun!”
At the heart of the project is Geoffrey, a lovable character who faces his worries with courage. The story gently addresses common childhood anxieties, making it instantly relatable for our pupils. It gave a visual and creative language to emotions—our children confidently used the various “jitters” to talk about their own feelings, even after the project ended.
At Hampton Lakes, integrating the arts across the curriculum is a key focus. Our art coordinator, Helen, led engaging activities inspired by the story and the teacher toolkit. Pupils especially enjoyed creating their own felt jitters, and small 3D paper jitters became regular guests at our singing sessions!
Music was central throughout this project. The catchy, expressive songs captivated our pupils and helped foster a deep sense of connection and joy. Through this, our pupils also explored composition, graphic scores, conducting and appreciation for classical music. The corridors echoed daily with joyful singing – particularly “Hot and sweaty, hot, hot and sweaty!”
Staff found the collaborative nature of the project uplifting. It brought fresh energy into the classroom and sparked important conversations about emotions, kindness and mental health.
After spending half a term’s Music, PSHE and Art lessons focusing on Geoffrey and his jitters, we reached the grand finale! Britten Sinfonia’s live performance not only introduced the children to classical instruments and sounds, sparking their curiosity, but engaged them all in a sense of pride by being an integral part of the performance.
As one Year 2 pupil described it, it was “an explosion of music and fun!”
Geoffrey Gets The Jitters was more than a musical experience – it was a joyful, emotional journey that left a lasting impact on our whole school community.
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