See these South Shields school teachers as never before in lockdown lip syncing video

Pupils from Mortimer Community College in South Shields have had the chance to see their teachers like they’ve never seen them before last week.

As the coronavirus crisis continues members of staff decided to boost morale among students and their families by creating a comical lip syncing video.

The compilation shows staff miming the words to Bill Withers’ Lean on Me and Queens’ classic I Want to Break Free while self-isolating in their own homes.

Some recorded themselves miming into their hair brushes and dancing with toilet rolls, with others in full fancy dress.

Members of staff can be seen splashing around in paddling pools, with their pets and pretending to belt out ‘I want to break free’ while in trapped in makeshift cages and tied up in rope.

Watch the full video here

The video - which has been viewed more than 13,000 times on the school’s Facebook page since it was shared on Wednesday, April 22 - has had an incredible response with present and former pupils and their families.

Many members of the school community have commented that it put a smile on their face and thanked the staff for their ‘amazing’ efforts.

Deputy head, Joanne Thornton said the video was a way for staff to stay connected with pupils and praised the ‘fabulous’ response of Mortimer Community College staff.

She commented: “I thought it would be a nice way for staff to stay in touch with our students and families as we are all thinking of them at this difficult time. The response from staff was fabulous, as it always is.”

Headteacher Simon Hignett said: “In these difficult times, it is important that we all follow the rules and keep to the advice that is being given by the government. We will get through this if we stick together and follow the social distancing protocols.

“Hopefully the lip sync will bring a smile to the students, families and community of Mortimer in what are very challenging times for all.”

Click here for live coronavirus updates

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.

How to subscribe to the print edition

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.