James B Partridge

James B Partridge
Born (1991-01-11) January 11, 1991
Poole, England
EducationDowning College, Cambridge
OccupationsMusician, singing teacher, performer
Years active2010s–present
Known forPrimary School Bangers
Websitejamesbpartridge.com

James B Partridge

James Bradley Partridge (born January 11 1991[1][2]) is a British musician, singing teacher, and live performer known for creating the nostalgic sing-along show Primary School Bangers. A primary school music teacher,[3] he gained prominence through viral social media videos celebrating songs traditionally sung in British school assemblies.[4][5]

Early life and education

Partridge was born in Poole, Dorset, in 1991 to parents who were teachers[6] and has three brothers, including Dan Partridge.[7] He developed an early interest in music and sang for his local church choir and as part of the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus[8]. After attending Poole Grammar School[9], Partridge read music at Downing College, Cambridge as the college's first choral scholar.[10]

Career

Teaching and musical work

After graduating, Partridge worked for music companies such as PRS for Music[11] before becoming a music and singing teacher in primary schools in London.[12]

Alongside teaching, he worked as a freelance singer and choral performer singing with artists from Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones[13] and was involved with Gareth Malone’s choir Voices, appearing in high-profile events including the Royal Variety Show and the Classic Brit Awards.[14] From 2013, Partridge also performed regularly around the UK and internationally with his vocal group The Harbour[15] and function band Truly Medley Deeply.[16][17]

Social media success

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Partridge began posting musical videos online for pupils and audiences to sing along with. In 2021 he posted a TikTok video ranking popular British school assembly songs, which gained viral attention.[4]

His videos frequently feature nostalgic assembly songs such as Lord of the Dance and Give Me Oil in My Lamp.[18]

Primary School Bangers

The popularity of Partridge’s videos led to the creation of the live show Primary School Bangers, a participatory sing-along performance featuring songs associated with British primary school assemblies.[19]

The show features Partridge accompanying audiences on piano while encouraging communal singing and sharing humorous reflections on school life.[20]

Festivals and media appearances

Partridge has performed at events including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe[21], Camp Bestival[22] and Glastonbury Festival[23][24]. The Glastonbury Festival 2025 set was filmed for the official BBC Glastonbury coverage and the BBC News TikTok video of his set achieved 6.8 million views[25].

He has appeared on television and radio programmes including BBC Breakfast[26], The One Show[27], Sunday Brunch [28] and Newsround.[29] He regularly appears on BBC national and regional radio stations to talk about singing and education[30][31] as well as commercial stations such as Virgin Radio.[32]

Personal life

Partridge lives in London and has continued teaching alongside his performing career.[33] He has also written a children's fiction book Dahlia and the Land Without Music, published by Sweet Cherry Publishing.[34][35]

References

  1. ^ "Happy Birthday TikTok".
  2. ^ Kinney, Fergal (5 March 2026). "Bright and beautiful? The man causing millennial rapture with his school hymn singalongs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  3. ^ "Sing it out with James Partridge's joyous assembly | Seen & Unseen". www.seenandunseen.com. 24 March 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b Marshall, Alex (5 March 2026). "The millennial rapture of school hymn singalongs". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Columnist, Guest (30 October 2025). "Meet James B Partridge, the man who made school assembly bangers cool". Big Issue. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  6. ^ "James B Partridge on the Big Christmas Assembly tour". Great British Life. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  7. ^ Ep 23: Post-Glasto catch-up with Dan Partridge - Notes from School. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026 – via notesfromschool.buzzsprout.com.
  8. ^ "Primary School Assembly Bangers go festive". BBC News. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  9. ^ "A dream come true: James selected from thousands to perform with Gareth Malone at the BIC". Bournemouth Echo. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  10. ^ "Interview: James B. Partridge". Alternative Classical.
  11. ^ Money-Coutts, Sophia (14 April 2025). "Put your hands in the air! My big night out clubbing to school assembly hymns". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Teacher turned singer takes audiences back to school". InYourArea.
  13. ^ Columnist, Guest (30 October 2025). "Meet James B Partridge, the man who made school assembly bangers cool". Big Issue. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  14. ^ "About James B Partridge". James B Partridge official site.
  15. ^ "The Harbour". YouTube. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  16. ^ "About Me". James B Partridge. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Bournemouth star's Christmas show 'nearly filled the Pavilion'". Bournemouth Echo. 22 November 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  18. ^ "Interview with James B Partridge". Alternative Classical.
  19. ^ "This viral school singalong is heading to Barnstaple". Exeter Today.
  20. ^ "Teacher turned singer takes audiences back to school". InYourArea.
  21. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Primary School Assembly Bangers Live!". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  22. ^ "School 'bangers' performed back where they began - in Dorset". BBC News. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  23. ^ "About James B Partridge". James B Partridge official site.
  24. ^ "'Primary School Bangers' set draws in Glastonbury Festival crowds". BBC News. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  25. ^ "BBC News Glastonbury 2025 TikTok".
  26. ^ James B Partridge (9 July 2023). Bringing the school assembly to BBC Breakfast! FULL FEATURE. Retrieved 9 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ James B Partridge (27 May 2024). Primary School Assembly Live on BBC The One Show. Retrieved 9 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ "Sunday Brunch Facebook".
  29. ^ "About James B Partridge". James B Partridge official site.
  30. ^ James B Partridge (3 January 2025). BBC Radio 2 x James B Partridge with Tina Daheley. Retrieved 9 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ James B Partridge (24 August 2023). James B Partridge Primary School Assembly Bangers on BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show FULL AUDIO. Retrieved 9 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ James B Partridge (10 October 2024). Harvest Festival Bangers with Tom Allen on Virgin Radio. Retrieved 9 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ "This viral school singalong is heading to Barnstaple". Exeter Today.
  34. ^ Money-Coutts, Sophia (14 April 2025). "Put your hands in the air! My big night out clubbing to school assembly hymns". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  35. ^ admin (9 July 2025). "Dahlia and the Land Without Music". Sweet Cherry Publishing. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
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