Schools to vote on children's favourite songs

Primary school classrooms will soon be alive again with the sound of music.

The Government is planning to publish a 21st-century songbook for all schools - comprised of the top 30children's songs.

Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Education, will announce the move on Tuesday - and urge all schools to get pupils to vote for the songs they would most like to see in the book. Composers, who have welcomed the iniative, will also be invited to submit new material - and pupils will be able to vote on this too. Early favourites are the BBC theme "Perfect Day" and Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head".

However, Mr Johnson is anxious that the songbook should reflect a range of music - from classical to traditional folk to pop. He also wants to see music representing the various different ethnic communities in the anthology.

"Some of the most exciting music in recent years has come from mixing up hip hop and rock, jazz and funk, classical and electronic music," he said. "Singing is an ideal way for children to experience music ... It can build team working and be great fun."