PUPILS from a Staffordshire school have moved closer to stardom after a successful audition for ITV's Britain's Got Talent show.

Thirteen pupils from Paget High School in Branston, near Burton, have won a place in the final preliminary round of the reality contest searching for Britain's best talent act.

If successful, they will go forward to perform in front of judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan.

Thousands of hopefuls took part in the early-stage audition at Birmingham, but the Paget group made an early impression helped by a coach-load of supporters.

The final of Britain's Got Talent 2008

Producers of the show, hosted by Ant and Dec, then asked them to perform – which they did in front of 2,000 other hopefuls.

Their act involved singing a version of Roberta Flack's 1970s hit Killing Me Softly with His Song, which broke out into a rap and dancing routine.

The youngsters will now perform at the final preliminary audition in January. If successful, they will appear on the new series of the programme due to be start in March.

But already staff and pupils at the school are delighted, particularly as the group only had days to rehearse. The school originally planned to put forward the winners of its own Paget's Got Talent competition at Christmas to the contest. However, they were then told that entrants were required to audition at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, on October 26.

That left the pupils with just five days to prepare.

Head of year 11 Olu Oparinde said: "To pull it off at such short notice was a fantastic achievement. These kids are multi-talented.

"Many of them spend their spare time rapping.

Dancer Kayleigh Difney, aged 15, said: "Not many schools get to do this and it's very exciting.We took a coach of supporters and they were quite tearful when we performed."

The winner of the series will receive £100,000 and the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.

Rapper Daniel Campbell, 14, said the school, which has almost 1,000 pupils, has a good chance.

"You don't normally see a mix of rapping, singing and dancing in one act," he said.

Singer Hayley Perry, 15, added: "I think the act will really blow everyone away. We have a lot of different characteristics and personalities."

Mr Oparinde said: "We're trying to engage kids and give them opportunities outside the curriculum. It will give their confidence a huge boost."