LESSONS screeched to a halt as X-Factor star Stacey Solomon visited her old school just days ahead of the show’s grand final.

The 20-year-old singer paid a visit to King Solomon High School in Barkingside, alongside her mentor Dannii Minogue, for a special appearance in front of hundreds of ecstatic youngsters.

A heavy police presence was laid on by the programme’s nervous producers as their star returned to the school in Forest Road where her brother Matthew is still a pupil.

ICT teacher and school governor David Bernstein said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day. We had 350 students in the hall, because that's all it can hold. Years 13, 11 and 10 were inside, while years 7, 8, 9 and 12 were outside to greet her as she arrived.

“Everyone was so excited, and it was strange for her to come back to school like this. In fact as she got on stage she said it felt a bit weird.

The mum-of-one, who left the school three years ago, treated the crowd to a rendition of 'Somewhere', from the musical West Side Story - the track which won her a place in the show’s grand final when she performed it on Saturday.

She also sang two other tracks she has performed on the show – Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World' and 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' from the Wizard of Oz.

It is widely rumoured that Stacey will team up with Canadian crooner Michael Buble for a duet in the grand final on Saturday.

Mr Bernstein said: “I was asked by the head to do the sound with a young man from year 11, and thank God we got it right today, because she sang beautifully.”