Hair-raising day for pupils as Jedward judge talent contest

THEY certainly know a thing or two about singing competitions.

IN SYNC: The Irish pair, who performed at the Eurovision song contest, will judge the contest held in memory of tragic Charlie Pearson

Now X Factor and Eurovision stars Jedward will be following in the footsteps of Simon Cowell and their mentor Louis Walsh by searching for up-and-coming talent - at a Lothians primary school.

The Irish twins, John and Edward Grimes, were today judges at a competition being staged at Windygoul Primary School in Tranent.

They were set to be part of a five-strong panel at the contest, which was set up last year in memory of former pupil Charlie Pearson, who died in May 2009 after a long battle with leukaemia.

The winner of the contest, which Charlie's family are invited to attend each year, is awarded the Pearson Shield.

Speaking ahead of the event, Jedward said: "We are delighted to be joining the judging panel. We are looking forward to seeing the young people in action."

Pupils were set to be judged on overall performance, audience response, stage appearance, originality and personality. The judges' two favourite acts were due to perform in a final, with the winner being decided upon in a pupil vote.

Performances were set to feature a varied line line-up of acts, including gymnasts, tap dancers, singers and comedians.

Windygoul Primary won a visit from Jedward through a national mobile phone recycling competition sponsored by learning technology specialist Promethean, in aid of the NSPCC's ChildLine service in Scotland.

Pupils at Windygoul collected 261 mobile phones as part of the Give Every Child A Voice campaign, for which the Irish pop stars are ambassadors.

Every school in Scotland was invited to take part in the campaign to collect old or unwanted phones, which will be recycled and converted into funds for ChildLine.

Headteacher Ann Malcolm said staff had not read the small print on the competition entry and had no idea the visit from Jedward was part of the prize.

She said: "We came back from a holiday and there was a message about Jedward coming and we thought someone must be winding us up.

"It all feels a bit bizarre, but the kids are so looking forward to their visit."

Mrs Malcolm added: "I don't know who's most nervous - the children or the staff.

"As a green school, the recycling campaign has been really important to us."

Jedward were also set to judge a poster competition, with pupils having created designs for the Give Every Child A Voice campaign.

Councillor Peter MacKenzie, East Lothian's education leader, added: "Congratulations to Windygoul Primary on their magnificent fundraising effort."