When English teacher Katie Paine opened the doors of her school choir rehearsal last term only 12 students entered the bedroom.

But, inspired by her favourite TV show which she knew was loved by her pupils, she chose to try different things.

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At Surrey's Effingham school's first Glee Club rehearsal, over 50 eager students turned up, seeking to be turned into the dazzlingly-attired, perfectly-timed and always-in-tune show choir of the US Tv program, which ended immediately.

Effingham is one of several schools feeling the Glee effect, as traditional singing groups during the entire UK transform themselves into show choirs, encouraging young people to get started on singing initially.

The comedy-musical show charts the storyline of an group of teenagers in a US senior high school show choir, or glee club. The politically-correct cast - including the school's star football player, a feisty African-American, a gay teen plus a student in a wheelchair - work their way by way of a number of good-time tunes, plus a large serving of self-deprecating humour.

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"The hype with the programme has truly caught on, they love it," said Paine, who choreographs the choir, while music teacher Amy Whiterod manages the singing.

"We have categories of sixthformers asking ahead and practice at lunchtimes and you'll see Glee clubbers practising the dance moves in groups."

Michael Raven, 14, joined Glee club 3 weeks ago: "I'd watched the programme plus it just seemed like a great deal fun. I do believe other kids maybe thought singing was boring but it is caused it to be more exciting."

No prizes for guessing his favourite song, it's a Glee favourite. "Don't Stop Believin' - it simply enables you to feel so great," he explained.

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It's not just schools who are going crazy for Glee. Helen Price, in the Choir of the Year said there has been a 30% rise in the amount of choirs entering your competition. "It has definitely had an impact. It's so very much more fun than it had been, there is certainly this sense since anything goes," she said.

Rather than 20 pubescent girls caterwauling for the Sound of Silence, young choristers wish to sing pop songs, with Michael Jackson, Abba and Queen all favourites. "It's ideal for the singers, as if they engage their repertoire it gives them more confidence plus they really belt against each other," said Price.

Glee indoctrination also definitely seems to be starting early. Sing Up, a nationwide singing programme targeted at primary young children, has noticed an upturn within the amount of pop songs downloaded from the site for teaching purposes. Celi Barberia, from Sing Up, said: "Music starts to be considered something that is cool. Plenty of choirs happen to be achieving this kind of thing already, but that is bringing it in to the public arena."

The Glee effect could even be spreading after dark school gate. Jay Kamiraz, whose Soul of Prophecy gospel choir may be going since 2004, has become hired to operate a Glee workshop for unemployed parents in Tower Hamlets in east London.

"It's become this kind of growing trend, everybody wants the Glee experience," he was quoted saying.

Alison Duncan, that has just started a Glee club at GEMS Sherfield school in Hampshire is convinced in the important things about finding yourself in a singing group. "Singing produces endorphins and is also very therapeutic, and great for teaching your children being a part of a team."

Renaming school choirs Glee Club has additionally helped with the perennial problem facing choir leaders: how to get more boys. Alex Chestney-Stagg, 14, who has just joined, explained why he'd never sung in the group before. "Singing in a very choir wasn't exactly viewed as the manliest or coolest action to take," he explained. "But Glee has opened it to anyone. I love the belief that we obtain to sing contemporary songs, not hymns, and a smart way of meeting each person."

The cast members of Glee may have heard every one of the words and movements to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance instantaneously - this will let you perfectly formed bubble dress to execute in - but students know superior to to get unrealistic expectations of these first rehearsals, said Duncan.

"It's an excellent lesson in delayed gratification," she said. "The kids have experienced the show and are aware that final results can be fantastic in order that they are willing to just work at it."

For the moment, there is little change in the competition which is a fundamental element of the scene in america but that could be planning to change. Choir of the Year are launching a National Glee competition in 2012.