It is just over a week since Team UK returned from EuroSkills Budapest 2018, having won three bronze medals and one gold medal, as well as seven medallions of excellence.
The team’s performance secured the UK a top 10 spot in the rankings. And now it has also made them the subject of the latest song by Bedford College principal and singer Ian Pryce. In Budapest - a cover of George Ezra’s hit of the same name - he lauds the performance of Team UK’s 22 competitors and their support team.
‘We’re good at what we do’
“They gave us many reasons why we should be so proud of them all,” Mr Pryce sings. “We didn’t beat the Russians, that don’t mean much. You made us happy, beating Belgians and the Dutch. Our 22…beat Denmark too.”
“Further education gets criticised,” he continues. “But when we do so well, we’re not surprised. So why are you? We’re good at what we do.”
This is not the first time Mr Pryce has used FE as a musical inspiration. Last year, he tweaked one of Dolly Parton’s best-known hits and turned it into an appeal to then education secretary Justine Greening for more FE funding. And earlier this year, he changed Katy Perry’s Roar into a tribute to AoC president Alison Birkinshaw.
To mark GCSE results day, he also recorded a cover of the Village People’s YMCA in an unlikely tribute to colleges’ work to support students on GCSE resits in English and maths
Budapest: the full lyrics
They went to Budapest
Got medals on their chest
Three bronze and one gold medal
And 9th place in the table
UK had a ball
We need to understand
What they’ve achieved
Joanne the team coach
Taught them to believe
And so team UK had a ball
They gave us many reasons why we should be so proud of them all
We didn’t beat the Russians, that don’t mean much
You made us happy, beating Belgians and the Dutch
Our 22 beat Denmark too
Our average point score, beat Germany
Our team had strength in depth, we just need more money
If you invest, we’ll beat the best
And give you more good reasons why we should be so proud of them all
So what’s your superpower? We should be told
Holly Mae’s a beauty therapist, she won the gold
Seven medallions they’re bringing back
On top of bronzes for Ross, Gavin, Danny and Jack
Their dreams came true, next time it could be you
They gave us many reasons why we should be so proud of them all
Further education gets criticised
But when we do so well, we’re not surprised
So why are you? We’re good at what we do
We’ve given you a reason to say that you are proud of us all
They gave us many reasons why we would be so proud of them all
They went to Budapest
