IT WAS back to school for Britain’s Got Talent finalist Gabz Gardiner yesterday (Thursday).

The Comet: Gabz performs to a large crowd at Lodge Farm Primary School summer fairGabz performs to a large crowd at Lodge Farm Primary School summer fair (Image: Archant)

A ‘Go Gabz!’ sign welcomed the 14-year-old singer-songwriter on her return to Lodge Farm Primary School in Mobssbury Way, Stevenage, as part of a summer fair.

The Comet: Gabz with Lodge Farm pupil Brooke George who gave Gabz a customised bagGabz with Lodge Farm pupil Brooke George who gave Gabz a customised bag (Image: Archant)

During the afternoon, young fans lined up for Gabz’ autographs before watching her perform her first single – Lighters (The One) on the school’s playing fields.

The Comet: Fans gather around Gabz for photographsFans gather around Gabz for photographs (Image: Archant)

The song is currently eighth in the iTunes download chart and was fifth in the official charts following Wednesday’s midweek update.

The Comet grabbed a quick word with Gabz, who also performed on ITV’s This Morning the day before, about her return.

The Nobel School student, who was accompanied by her dad Noel, mum Greta and 12-year-old brother Courtney, said: “It was definitely different to This Morning as here I could see all the crowds in front of me. It was really nice to get such a response from everyone and see people singing along to my song.

“Everyone has been telling me they’ve been buying the single to try to get it to number one. It depends on how well this song does but I’d love to release more songs. Some I’ve written are quite different.”

The official chart show will be aired on BBC Radio 1 on Sunday, when Gabz is expected to be attending the Team Beach Movie premiere in London.

About the event, Zoe Coulson from Lodge Farm said: “It was amazing. There was a moment when I stood back and was looking across at all the crowds and was just like ‘wow’. A lot of people kept saying ‘it’s amazing’ as the school has never done something like this before.”

She also paid tribute to speakers company PMC which provided the school with equipment and a gazebo at a day’s notice after a problem with the school’s original sound system.

For a gallery of pictures click on the link at the top right of the page.