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50 Best Songs to Play at a School Disco Party

  • Aug 04, 2026
  • By Learn How To Be a DJ
  • DJ Playlist Ideas
  • 4 min read
50 Best Songs to Play at a School Disco Party

50 Best Songs to Play at a School Disco Party

School discos are a memorable part of growing up. They give children the chance to socialise, dance, build confidence and enjoy music in a safe and exciting environment. Whether it is a primary school disco, end of term celebration, fundraising event or leavers’ party, choosing the right playlist is one of the most important parts of creating a successful event.

The 50 Best Songs to Play at a School Disco Party playlist below has been carefully selected to appeal to children while also keeping teachers, parents and organisers happy. The focus is on well known, clean, upbeat songs that encourage participation, dancing and singalongs. The best school disco playlists combine modern chart hits with timeless classics that every generation recognises, creating an atmosphere where everyone can join in.

A typical school disco audience ranges from children aged around 5 to 11 years old, although many of these songs also work brilliantly for older pupils. Energy levels should gradually build throughout the event, mixing dance anthems, pop favourites, family friendly classics and novelty songs that get everyone involved.

When planning your playlist, avoid songs with explicit lyrics and choose radio edits where available. Include a variety of musical styles such as pop, disco, dance, funk, family movie soundtracks and feel good classics to keep the dancefloor full. Interactive songs with simple dance routines also help younger children feel confident joining in.

If you are looking for the 50 Best Songs to Play at a School Disco Party, this collection provides a proven mix of favourites that have entertained generations of school children and continue to work at school discos across the UK. Whether you are a teacher, parent, PTA organiser or professional DJ, these songs provide an excellent foundation for a fun, energetic and memorable event.

50 Best Songs to Play at a School Disco Party

No. Song Artist Original Release Year Genre
1 Happy Pharrell Williams 2013 Pop
2 Can’t Stop the Feeling! Justin Timberlake 2016 Pop
3 Shake It Off Taylor Swift 2014 Pop
4 Roar Katy Perry 2013 Pop
5 Firework Katy Perry 2010 Pop
6 Walking on Sunshine Katrina and the Waves 1985 Pop Rock
7 Celebration Kool & The Gang 1980 Funk
8 YMCA Village People 1978 Disco
9 Cha Cha Slide DJ Casper 2000 Dance
10 Macarena Los del Río 1993 Latin Pop
11 Cotton Eye Joe Rednex 1994 Eurodance
12 We Like to Party! Vengaboys 1998 Eurodance
13 Barbie Girl Aqua 1997 Europop
14 Best Day of My Life American Authors 2013 Pop Rock
15 Dance Monkey Tones and I 2019 Pop
16 Dynamite BTS 2020 Disco Pop
17 Levitating Dua Lipa 2020 Disco Pop
18 Blinding Lights The Weeknd 2019 Synth Pop
19 Cake by the Ocean DNCE 2015 Pop Rock
20 Timber Pitbull featuring Kesha 2013 Dance Pop
21 Party Rock Anthem LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett & GoonRock 2011 Electro Pop
22 I Gotta Feeling The Black Eyed Peas 2009 Dance Pop
23 Good Time Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen 2012 Pop
24 Call Me Maybe Carly Rae Jepsen 2011 Pop
25 What Makes You Beautiful One Direction 2011 Pop
26 Hall of Fame The Script featuring will.i.am 2012 Pop Rock
27 Brave Sara Bareilles 2013 Pop
28 Count on Me Bruno Mars 2010 Pop
29 Uptown Funk Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 2014 Funk Pop
30 Treasure Bruno Mars 2013 Funk Pop
31 September Earth, Wind & Fire 1978 Funk
32 I Want You Back The Jackson 5 1969 Soul
33 ABC The Jackson 5 1970 Soul
34 Don’t Stop Me Now Queen 1979 Rock
35 Dancing Queen ABBA 1976 Pop
36 Mamma Mia ABBA 1975 Pop
37 Try Everything Shakira 2016 Pop
38 You’ve Got a Friend in Me Randy Newman 1995 Soundtrack
39 A Sky Full of Stars Coldplay 2014 Pop Rock
40 On Top of the World Imagine Dragons 2012 Pop Rock
41 The Lion Sleeps Tonight The Tokens 1961 Pop
42 Hakuna Matata Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver & Joseph Williams 1994 Soundtrack
43 Better When I’m Dancin’ Meghan Trainor 2015 Pop
44 Can’t Hold Us Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton 2011 Hip Hop
45 Dance the Night Dua Lipa 2023 Disco Pop
46 Shake Senora Harry Belafonte 1957 Calypso
47 Twist and Shout The Beatles 1963 Rock and Roll
48 Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) Shakira featuring Freshlyground 2010 World Pop
49 High Hopes Panic! at the Disco 2018 Pop Rock
50 Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder 1981 Soul

Learn How to Become a DJ

If creating playlists like the 50 Best Songs to Play at a School Disco Party has inspired you to take DJing further, now is the perfect time to develop your skills. Learning to DJ is about much more than simply playing songs. It involves understanding music programming, reading a crowd, beatmatching, microphone techniques, equipment setup and creating unforgettable experiences for every audience.

Whether you want to DJ school events, birthday parties, weddings, corporate functions or nightclub events, having the right knowledge can help you progress much faster and avoid common beginner mistakes.

If you are ready to start your DJ journey, visit How to Become a DJ to discover practical advice, expert guidance and a comprehensive ebook designed to help beginners build confidence and become successful DJs.

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