Ed Sheeran's surprise visit to Brighton school in pictures

The singer dropped in to Fairlight Primary School in Brighton and strolled into a music assembly.

Then he performed a surprise gig, including hits such as Shape Of You, Perfect and Bad Habits.

The popstar performing for staff and pupils at Fairlight Primary School (Image: Chloe Hashemi)

Damien Jordan, headteacher of the school in St Leonards Road, said: “They were shocked. Absolutely shocked. We had one drummer who was playing who completely lost his focus and timing when he walked in and just kept saying ‘that’s Ed Sheeran, that’s Ed Sheeran’.

"One of the children has not quite worked out who he was and then when he started playing one of his songs, he suddenly said 'I know him'. The children went home and told their parents, no one believed them.

“The children did not know until he walked in. A couple of staff knew beforehand but I kept it a secret from them because we wanted it to be a surprise. They could not quite believe that Ed Sheeran was coming to school on a Friday.”

The singer took time to speak to staff about the difficulties they have with teaching music to pupils and how he could use his influence to help.

He also donated a set of guitars to the school to help it continue its music programme.

Ed Sheeran talked with pupils about his own story (Image: Chloe Hashemi)

Mr Jordan said: “He shared his experiences and story with us, that he struggled at school and that it was music that allowed him to navigate the education system.

"He was quite keen to promote that he employs large amounts of people when he’s making an album and they are all creatives.

“He wanted to see the music lessons and he was telling the children that they had started years before him and that they would be better than him.

"He was very humble, just sitting and talking to the children, playing music with them. It just so happens that he’s Ed Sheeran.”

The visit was facilitated by Create Music, a music charity that provides inclusive music education for children, young people and adults across Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas.

The charity, which is part of Brighton Dome and Brighton Music Festival, works with the school to promote access to instrumental learning. Create Music currently teaches more than 6,500 children and young people each week in individual and small group lessons.

Peter Chivers, director of Create Music, said: “It was just brilliant to have Ed Sheeran visit the Create Music project at Fairlight School and see first-hand how music education is supporting the development of children and young people in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex.

"Ed shares our belief that lives can be transformed by the power of music and we are so grateful for his support and for the generous donation of instruments to help other budding musicians on their way.”