A ‘Remarkable’ 6,000 students ready to entertain at world’s largest amateur variety show Schools Spectacular-THIS WEEKEND!
NSW Department of Education
It’s showtime for thousands of public school students from across NSW who are ready to dance, sing, play, flip and hang from the ceiling at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena for the 2025 Schools Spectacular.
Known to be the world’s largest amateur variety show, the Schools Spectacular arena show will feature 5,500 Kindergarten to Year 12 students from almost 400 schools who have travelled up to 800 kilometres to come together over four spectacular performances on Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29.
With dazzling pyrotechnics, suspended circus acts, costumes by Academy Award–winning designer Tim Chappel and toe-tapping music, the 42nd Schools Spectacular has something for the whole family to enjoy.
Xavier Burton (St Ives North Public School), son of Human Nature band member Phil Burton, will be making his Schools Spectacular debut in this year’s Moving Choir. Known originally as ‘4 Trax’, Human Nature started their careers in Schools Spectacular, making this a full-circle moment. Human Nature last performed at Schools Spectacular in 2013 for the show’s 25th anniversary.
Also keeping it in the family is student co-host Maya Harriman-Khan (Newtown High School of the Performing Arts), whose family has been part of Schools Spectacular since its inception 42 years ago; a remarkable legacy spanning three generations of siblings, cousins, parents, aunties, uncles and grandparents.
Marking an impressive six years each with Schools Spectacular, featured vocalists Isabella Laga’aia (Newtown High School of the Performing Arts) and Jazmin Castle (Wagga Wagga High School), together with featured dancer Abigail Flaherty (Elizabeth Macarthur High School), will be showcasing their talents and passion for the annual variety show.
Songs in this year’s show range from Steve’s Lava Chicken from A Minecraft Movie to We’re in the Money from The Broadway Musical 42nd Street, Jai Ho from the 2008 hit movie Slumdog Millionaire, Blackbird by The Beatles and Defying Gravity from Wicked the Musical.
Original music is another key component of the 2025 production with Triple J Unearthed Indigenous Artist of the Year and Gomeroi featured vocalist Kyla-Belle Roberts (Moree Secondary College) performing her song ‘Scars’ for the first time with backing vocals and an orchestral accompaniment.
The arena show’s closing number ‘Remarkable’ was written and composed by featured vocalist Ocean Lim (Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School) and will be performed by all 5,500 students. Ocean performed another original song ‘Follow your Dreams’ for King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their visit to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt in October 2024.
Creative Director Sonja Sjolander said this year’s show is focused on the student voice more than ever before.
“The 2025 show theme ‘Remarkable’ will explore what it means to stand out, speak up, and shine – a fitting motif for the trailblazing students who are leading this show,” she said.
“Whether it’s a heartfelt solo, a dazzling instrumental, or a choreographed group number, these students will blow you away.”
Just outside the doors of Qudos Bank Arena is entertainment and activity hub, SpecFest, where a flashmob of more than 500 students will dance to Isabella Laga’aia’s original song ‘Remarkable’, a track she wrote, composed and sings on for this special occasion. The song is available for download on Spotify and Apple Music.
Also on offer will be performances by NSW Public Schools Millenium Marching Band and solo and ensemble performances, Film By SpecFest viewings in the SpecFest gallery and rural and remote band competition Surround Sound.
This year’s Surround Sound finalists include returning artists Scream Street (Willyama High School), Ship of Thesius (South Grafton High School), The Rays (The Rivers Secondary College Lismore High Campus) and Undercover Funk (Kooringal High School); and 2025 newbies No Man’s Land (Batemans Bay High School), Onion Skin (Maclean High School), Ten Pack Screwdriver (TPS) (The Rivers Secondary College Kadina High Campus) and Wild Rocket (Byron Bay High School).
Schools Spectacular show times are Friday 28 November 11am and 7pm and Saturday 29 November 1pm and 7pm. Tickets are available to the general public through Ticketek.
The 2025 Schools Spectacular is proudly supported by Sponsors: Telstra, NSW Teachers Federation, School Bytes, Smart, Teachers Health, Supporters: Woolworths, Hertz and Steinway Australia and Event Partners: Qudos Bank Arena, Seven Network, Gravity Media and Ticketek.
SpecFest 2025 is proudly supported by NSW Teachers Federation, ACCO Brands Australia, Teachers Health, A Start in Life, AlphaTheta / Jands, ASI Solutions, Back to the Future: The Musical, Big Red Group, Booktopia, BounceInc, Cancer Council NSW, Eclipse Lighting and Sound, GIANTS Netball, Global Dance Tours, Golf Cart World, GSP Print/JC Decaux, Hertz, Life Education NSW, Monster Skatepark, NRL, NSW Swifts, Office for Youth, Office of Sport – Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Australia (NSW), Pan Macmillan Australia, Seven Network, Smart, Spriggy, Spriggy Schools, TeenBreathe, Telstra, Tennis Australia, The School Magazine, Sydney Conservatorium, Taronga Zoo, Unison Designs, URBNSURF and Woolworths.
Surround Sound 2025 is proudly supported by Eclipse Lighting and Sound and Turramurra Music.
SCHOOLS SPECTACULAR STATS & SCHOOLS
The 6,000 students include:
- 5,500 Arena show participants –
- 2500 voice choir
- 2800 dancers
- a 100-piece symphony orchestra
- 37 featured artists, 9 backing vocalists, 7 featured instrumentalists and 133 featured dancers
- Over 250 students involved in signing choirs, stage band, VET entertainment crew and specialist ensembles including Aboriginal contemporary dance, musical theatre, classical ballet, tap and hip hop.
- 500 SpecFest performers and VET hospitality and technical crew
- 600 teachers, staff and school learning support officers.
Schools and ensembles involved in Schools Spectacular 2025:
Airds High School
Albion Park High School
Albury High School
Albury Riverina Choir
Anson Street School
Armidale City Public School
Armidale Secondary College
Artarmon Public School
Arthur Phillip High School
Ashbury Public School
Ashcroft Public School
Ashfield Boys High School
Asquith Boys High School
Asquith Girls High School
Avalon Public School
Bald Face Public School
Balgowlah Heights Public School
Banks Public School
Banora Point High School
Barrenjoey High School
Bathurst Public School
Bathurst South Public School
Bathurst West Public School
Bellevue Hill Public School
Belmont High School
Berala Public School
Berinba Public School
Berowra Public School
Beverly Hills Girls High School
Blacktown Boys High School
Blairmount Public School
Blaxland High School
Blayney High School
Bletchington Public School
Bogan Gate Public School
Bonnyrigg High School
Bossley Park High School
Boys Vocal Ensemble
Bradfield College
Broderick Gillawarna School
Buninyong Public School
Burraneer Bay Public School
Burwood Girls High School
Busby West Public School
Caddies Creek Public School
Calare Public School
Cambridge Gardens Public School
Camden Haven High School
Cammeray Public School
Cammeraygal High School
Campbelltown Performing Arts High School
Campsie Public School
Canley Vale High School
Canobolas Rural Technology High School
Canterbury Girls High School
Carenne School
Caringbah High School
Caringbah North Public School
Carlingford High School
Casino High School
Casino West Public School
Castle Hill High School
Castle Hill Public School
Cecil Hills High School
Charlestown East Public School
Chatswood High School
Cheltenham Girls High School
Cherrybrook Public School
Cherrybrook Technology High School
Chifley College Mount Druitt Campus
Chipping Norton Public School
Claremont Meadows Public School
Coffs Harbour Senior College
Collarenebri Central School
Colo High School
Colyton Public School
Como West Public School
Connells Point Public School
Conservatorium High School
Coogee Public School
Coonamble Public School
Corrimal East Public School
Corrimal High School
Cowra High School
Cowra Public School
Cranebrook High School
Cromer Public School
Cronulla High School
Crookwell Public School
Croydon Park Public School
Curl Curl North Public School
Davidson High School
Doonside Public School
Dorrigo High School
Drummoyne Public School
Dubbo College Delroy Campus
Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design
Dundas Public School
East Hills Girls Technology High School
Eastwood Heights Public School
Elderslie High School
Elderslie Public School
Elizabeth Macarthur High School
Emu Heights Public School
Endeavour Sports High School
Engadine High School
Engadine West Public School
Epping West Public School
Ermington Public School
Erskine Park High School
Estella Public School
Excelsior Public School
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
Faulconbridge Public School
Fernhill School
Forbes High School
Forestville Public School
Forster Public School
Fort Street High School
Freemans Reach Public School
Galston High School
George Bass School
Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus
Georges River College Peakhurst Campus
Glen Innes High School
Glenmore Park High School
Glenmore Road Public School
Glenwood High School
Gloucester High School
Gooloogong Public School
Gordon West Public School
Gorokan High School
Gorokan Public School
Goulburn High School
Grafton High School
Gralee School
Grays Point Public School
Great Lakes College Forster Campus
Greater Western Sydney Dance Ensemble
Greenwich Public School
Greystanes High School
Gulgong High School
Gulgong Public School
Gulmarrad Public School
Gymea Bay Public School
Gymea Technology High School
Hambledon Public School
Harbord Public School
Hawkesbury High School
Heathcote High School
Heathcote Public School
Henry Fulton Public School
Holsworthy High School
Holsworthy Public School
Homebush West Public School
Hornsby Girls High School
Hoxton Park High School
Hoxton Park Public School
Hunter School of Performing Arts
Hunters Hill High School
Hurlstone Agricultural High School
Inner Sydney High School
Inverell High School
Inverell Public School
Irrawang Public School
James Busby High School
James Ruse Agricultural High School
Jamison High School
Jasper Road Public School
Jerrabomberra High School
Jindabyne High School
Jindabyne Public School
John Edmondson High School
Karabar High School
Kareela Public School
Kariong Public School
Katoomba High School
Kellyville Public School
Kellyville Ridge Public School
Killara High School
Killarney Heights High School
Kings Langley Public School
Kingscliff High School
Kingscliff Public School
Kingswood Collective Dance Ensemble
Kingswood High School
Kirrawee High School
Kirrawee Public School
Kooringal High School
Ku-ring-gai High School
Lane Cove Public School
Leeton High School
Leeton Public School
Leichhardt Public School
Leura Public School
Lewisham Public School
Lilli Pilli Public School
Lindfield Public School
Lithgow High School
Lithgow Public School
Liverpool Boys High School
Liverpool Girls High School
Lucas Heights Community School
Lugarno Public School
Lynwood Park Public School
Macarthur Girls High School
Maclean High School
Macquarie Fields High School
Macquarie Fields Public School
Matong Public School
Matthew Pearce Public School
Melonba Public School
Melville High School
Menai High School
Mendooran Central School
Metella Road Public School
Milperra Public School
Mitchell High School
Model Farms High School
Mona Vale Public School
Moree Secondary College Albert St Campus
Mosman High School
Muirfield High School
Mulwaree High School
Mulyan Public School
Murray High School
Murrumbidgee Regional High School – Griffith & Wade
Murrumburrah Public School
Murwillumbah High School
Murwillumbah Public School
Nabiac Public School
Narellan Vale Public School
Narrabeen North Public School
Narrabeen Sports High School
Narraweena Public School
Narromine High School
Narromine Public School
Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School
Neutral Bay Public School
Newbridge Heights Public School
Newtown High School of Performing Arts
Newtown High School of the Performing Arts
Nicholson Street Public School
Normanhurst Boys High School
North Sydney Boys High School
Northbourne Public School
Northbridge Public School
Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus
Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus
Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus
Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus
Northlakes High School
Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School
NSWPS Boys State Dance Ensemble
NSWPS State Ensemble
NSWPS State Primary Ensemble
Oakhill Drive Public School
Oatley Public School
Oran Park Public School
Orana Heights Public School
Orange High School
Orange Public School
Oxley High School
Oxley Park Public School
Padstow Heights Public School
Parkes East Public School
Parkes High School
Parkview Public School
Parramatta High School
Pennant Hills High School
Penrith High School
Penrith Selective High School
Picnic Point High School
Picton High School
Pittwater High School
Plumpton High School
Port Hacking High School
Prairiewood High School
Pymble Public School
Quakers Hill High School
Queanbeyan West Public School
Quirindi High School
Randwick High School
Randwick Public School
Richmond High School
Riverbank Public School
Riverina Albury Dance Ensemble
Riverina Central Choir
Riverina First Nations Dance Ensemble
Riverina Wagga Wagga Primary Dance Ensemble
Riverside Girls High School
Rooty Hill High School
Rooty Hill Public School
Rose Bay Secondary College
Rouse Hill High School
Rouse Hill Public School
Ruse Public School
Russell Lea Public School
Ryde Secondary College
Samuel Gilbert Public School
Samuel Terry Public School
Sarah Redfern High School
Sefton High School
Seven Hills High School
Smiths Hill High School
South Grafton High School
South Sydney High School
South Wagga Public School
Springwood High School
St George Girls High School
St George School
St Helens Park Public School
St Ives High School
St Ives North Public School
St Marys Senior High School
Stanmore Public School
Strathfield Girls High School
Strathfield North Public School
Strathfield South Public School
Sturt Public School
Summer Hill Public School
Sunshine Bay Public School
Sydney Girls High School
Sydney North Public Schools Dance Junior Ensemble
Sydney Secondary College Balmain Campus
Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus
Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus
Sylvania Heights Public School
Sylvania High School
Taree West Public School
Taren Point Public School
Tempe High School
Terrey Hills Public School
Terrigal High School
Tharawal Public School
The Hills Sports High School
The Jannali High School
The Ponds School
The Rivers Secondary College, Lismore High Campus
Toomelah Public School
Toongabbie Public School
Tregear Public School
Turramurra High School
Turramurra Public School
Ulladulla High School
Vardys Road Public School
Victoria Avenue Public School
Wagga Wagga High School
Wallerawang Public School
Warners Bay High School
Wattle Grove Public School
Westfields Sports High School
Whitebridge High School
Wideview Public School
Wilberforce Public School
Willans Hill School
William Stimson Public School
Willoughby Girls High School
Windsor High School
Winmalee High School
Winmalee Public School
Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts
Woolgoolga High School
Woollahra Public School
Woolooware High School
Woolooware Public School
Woonona High School
Yass High School
Yass Public School
Yowie Bay Public School.
