Ten Birmingham schools have been announced as Lead Schools for Music to further improve the role and benefits of learning and playing music for young people in Birmingham. Each of the schools will support other schools across the city to develop their music curriculum and wider music offer.

The announcement follows the appointment in September 2024 of Services For Education as Music Hub Lead Organisation for Birmingham and is part of the National Plan for Music to provide high-quality music education for all children and young people through investment in musical activities, equipment and teacher training.

The appointment of the ten schools reflects each school’s exceptional track record in music education, strong leadership, and commitment to ensuring access to high-quality and inclusive music education for all students both in terms of their curriculum and co-curricular offer (which includes additional activities and support) and marks a significant step forward in delivering high-quality music education for young people across the city.

The selected schools include primary, secondary and special and follow a detailed application and assessment process.

Richard Mabbott, Head of Music Service at Services For Education, said the appointments reflect each school’s exceptional track record in music education, strong leadership, and commitment to ensuring access to high-quality and inclusive music education for all students – both in terms of their curriculum and co-curricular, additional activities, offer.

“Lead Schools will work collaboratively with us and our partners delivering a broad range of professional learning to support schools across the city. This includes teacher training, school-to-school support and wider music engagement initiatives.

“We are delighted to be working with such passionate and experienced schools. Their leadership will help ensure that every young person, regardless of background, can discover and nurture their musical talent and have access to high-quality music education. These appointments represent a powerful investment in the future of music education in our city.”

The ten schools include:

Primary:
• Ladypool Primary School
• Mere Green Primary School
• St. Benedict’s School
• St. Laurence Church Junior School

Secondary:
• Lordswood Boys’ School
• Nishkam High School
• Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls
• Queensbridge School

Special Schools / Alternative Provision:
• Victoria School
• Brays School

Marie Lowndes-Ford, Director of Music at Lordswood Boys’ School said they were proud to have been selected as a Lead School of Music.

“This status will enable us to share our expertise more widely, support other schools, and expand life-changing opportunities for our students.

“More than 65% of our pupils participate in music through curriculum lessons, instrumental tuition, ensembles, clubs and our Elite Music Academy. With a healthy number of students taking GCSE Music and the introduction of the Arts Award, music is thriving. As a school with a well above average proportion of pupil premium students, this recognition brings even more chances for students to perform and shine — both in and beyond the classroom.

“As a Lead School, we will be able to help and support teachers deliver high-quality music and strengthen Birmingham’s music education network.  We will also collaborate with other Lead Schools across Birmingham, launching a jointly organised CPD programme which will be made available to all schools across the region.

“This is a very exciting time for the development of music education across Birmingham and will ensure that strong partnerships across schools, the music hub and other music organisations are fostered well over time.”

Robyn Murphy, Music Lead at Victoria School, Northfield, said the school was delighted to take part in and lead professional development for music teachers to share how the school uses music to engage pupils, build relationships, and develop confidence.

“Our aim and vision as a special school is for music to be embedded throughout the school day, ensuring it is inclusive and accessible music opportunities are provided to all.

“We offer music lessons and music therapy especially to those children who will benefit in particular and music is experienced in extra curriculum through lunchtime clubs including percussion club, Ukulele and a ‘beat club’. We also have a signing choir for children who want to sing and sign to help build their personal skills of working in a group and gaining confidence.

“We also use outside agencies to help upskill teachers and deliver music to pupils through intensive interaction.”

The new initiative coincides with the start of the new school year with planning and partnership work delivering a comprehensive programme of activity in 2025 and 2026.

ENDS

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 1: Through the work of Services For Education, Birmingham school children have the opportunity to play at world-class concert venues such as Birmingham’s Symphony Hall – the venue for the annual Youth Proms.

Pic 2: Lead Schools will support other schools across the city to develop their music curriculum and wider music offer.

For further information on Services For Education:

David Clarke, Clarke Associates, (Public and media relations, Services For Education)

E: david-c@clarke-associates.co.uk;

M: 07808 735255

About Services For Education:

An education and training charity based in Birmingham, Services For Education brings music and learning to life. Services For Education employs more than 200 staff delivering music tuition to children, and expert training and development to teaching and school support staff. It has annual income of £7.1m (2023/2024). Part-funded by the Arts Council, England it also has its own fundraising and subsidised commercial operations.

• Services For Education’s Music Service, one of the largest in the country, works with 98% of Birmingham schools and each year teaches music to nearly 32,000 children – as well as running 113 free ensembles. It provides 27,000 musical instruments free-of-charge so all children have access to playing and enjoying music together and its Youth Proms at Symphony Hall give 4,000 young musicians the opportunity to perform to an audience of more than 10,000. It also runs music schools, has a world music department, provides private music tuition to all ages as well as working with partners to deliver music and choral opportunities to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. Its award-winning Online Music Educational Resource was completed and launched free to schools in 2021 to appeal to a young IT-connected audience attracted to learning online and to complement traditional tuition.
• Services For Education’s School Support Service provides expert training and development to teaching and support staff in nearly 600 schools in the West Midlands and increasingly across England, to improve practice and ensure teachers are best equipped to respond to developments in curriculum and policy. As a leading provider of safeguarding education, Services For Education works with 400 schools delivering training in-person and on-line. It also delivers innovative programmes to support the physical and emotional health of children and young people through Health for Life and other community-based activity. servicesforeducation.co.uk

Issued on behalf of:

Services For Education, Unit 3 Holt Court, Holt Street, Birmingham Science Park, Aston, Birmingham B7 4AX