Sundial Festival 2025: A Day of Celebration!

After whispers of a gap year, Sundial Festival 2025 came back brighter than ever — all thanks to our generous hosts who kindly offered a venue, turning what could’ve been a pause into a powerful celebration of community, creativity, and collaboration. Held on Sunday 6th July, this year’s festival brought over 1,000 guests together to celebrate the incredible work of our charitable partners, our fantastic schools and soak up the festival vibes.

The sun shone bright for most of the day, with a few short shower bursts that failed to dampen anyone’s spirits. Ponchos on, smiles wide — our guests embraced every moment. From inflatable assault courses, giant slides, trampolines and climbing walls to fairground stalls and arts & crafts, there was no shortage of fun for all ages but the real stars of the show shone around lunchtime, as Undershaw students once again drew in the crowds with their uplifting performances. James Lindsay, head of Pastoral Care and Teacher of Music at Undershaw, summarised:

"We were incredibly proud of all those who performed at Sundial Festival. Students from every year group, from KS2 up to Year 11 performed with confidence, enthusiasm and creativity and they displayed an extraordinary range of talents. Performances ranged from moving choir ballads to heartfelt solos to heavy metal drumming to full rock bands. The music performed was diverse and challenging, ranging from Queen to The Smiths to Radiohead to System of a Down. Lyla, in Year 8 also performed her own song, 'Resilience' which moved many to tears. The show ended with a staff and student mega-band performing a terrific rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody that had the whole crowd joining in.

Many students performed brilliantly on a range of different instruments such as Lewis, Jack and Cleo in Year 10, who between them performed on drums, guitar, piano and voice. It was so lovely to see these Music student leaders not only shining in their own performances but also helping younger groups to flourish by accompanying them on guitar and drums. In addition to all the superb performances it was so lovely to see all of our performers supporting one another with such enthusiasm and kindness. It is these values of kindness, resilience and respect that demonstrate the truly exceptional ethos of Undershaw and made us all so proud."

This year, we also had a group of Post 16 learners gaining valuable work experience in an event environment and some inspiring alumni took to the stage for a Q&A session – proving just how far talent can go when nurtured in the right environment.

“One of the many highlights of the day was seeing our current Post 16 students contributing to the event through a variety of work experience roles. These opportunities are more than just a chance to lend a hand, they are a vital extension of classroom learning, offering students a chance to apply their skills in real-world settings. It was a pleasure to witness their confidence, professionalism, and sense of pride as they engaged with guests and supported the event.

We were especially proud to welcome back some of our alumni, whose presence was both moving and motivating. Listening to Alex and Bill speak so eloquently from the stage was a standout moment. Their reflections on life after Undershaw, their personal growth, and their continued aspirations resonated deeply with the audience. For our current students and their families, these stories were a powerful reminder of the paths that lie ahead and the potential that exists within each young person.” - Leilah Sheridan, Head of Employability and Post 16

We were proud to be joined by a number of our long-standing partners; Challengers, Habitat, PEAS, Sailability and SATRO all doing a fantastic job of showcasing the great work that they do. Our social enterprises, The Cookie Bar and Free Bird Film were kept busy serving guests and capturing all the action on camera, creating memories to look back on. We were delighted to also welcome some newer organisations and look forward to seeing how we can continue to make a difference.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and made the day such a success – here’s to building on this for 2026!

Keep an eye on our Facebook page to view the full album of photos.