Who we are
Services For Education (Charity no. 1148848) uses the power of learning and of music to create and build confidence amongst children, young people, adults and communities across the city of Birmingham. Our mission is to bring music and learning to life.
We believe that every young person should be able to grow up to be the very best that they can be, regardless of their background.
To this end the charity was formed in 2012 to provide more opportunities for children of all ages and abilities in Birmingham to reach their full potential.
Services For Education Limited
CE: Sharon Bell
Senior Leadership Team: Lindsay Allen, Carl Black, Tracy Carlton, Richard Mabbott and Sarah Marshall
Registered Number: 07739831
Registered Charity in England and Wales: 1148848
Registered Address:
Unit 3 Holt Court
Holt Street
Birmingham Science Park Aston
Birmingham
England
B7 4AX
Key contacts
sharon bell
chief executive
Sharon was previously Group Vice Principal (Commercial and International) at WCG (Warwickshire College Group).
tracy carlton
Director of Marketing & Business Development
Tracy is responsible for our IT, digital, marketing, business development and fundraising areas.
Richard Mabbott
head of the music service
Richard has 15 years working in secondary schools starting his career as a classroom teacher in an inner-city school in Sheffield, before becoming Head of Music.
Our Governance
As a charity, our executive leadership team are overseen by a Board of Trustees, the current trustees are:
Martin Hall (Chair) – 33 years in the corporate insurance broking sector until 2022, Martin now runs a consultancy which works directly with corporate clients to leverage their broker/insurer relationships. Martin sits on the board of small tech-based businesses, is Chair of Governors for a Primary School, Executive Committee Member of Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber of Commerce, an Enterprise Adviser to secondary schools in Tamworth and an Ambassador for We are Staffordshire.
David Bolton (Deputy Chair) – trained with a Birmingham accountancy practice and now works for the world’s largest cash machine deployer with internationally based teams. David’s three children have learned brass instruments through Services For Education.
Sarah Smith – Director of Education for the Diocese of Birmingham and a former head teacher.
Clive Stone DL – Clive is currently CEO of Professional Services company and former Chairman and CEO of a leading Midlands’ catering and events company. Clive is also a Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands.
Joanna Cooney – Joanna who grew up in the West Midlands and is a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell. Since joining Irwin Mitchell, first as a paralegal, Joanna has worked for several years within the employment team where she developed my interest in employment law issues in the education sector. During this time she supported numerous educational clients on a range of employment issues.
Dr Peter Borg-Bartolo – Peter is the current Chair of The Lunar Society. After a wide-ranging career in medicine, including 34-years as a general practitioner in Birmingham, he is now Senior Clinical Mentor with NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Dr Jory Debenham – has worked in music education for more than 25 years as a private instrumental teacher, examiner and university lecturer, alongside roles in corporate communications, investor relations and government policy. She is currently Head of Special Projects in the Floods and Water Directorate at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – as well as remaining a committed private instrumental teacher.
Eluned Mansell - Eluned has worked on the development and delivery of national and international education programmes, such as Teach First’s Training Programme, the English national curriculum, and a performing arts collaboration between The Juilliard School and Nord Anglia Education. She currently works for Oak National Academy, producing free curriculum resources for schools. She also sings with the CBSO Chorus.
Oliver Wilson - Oliver is an experienced serving Head Teacher in a highly inclusive primary school in Quinton, Birmingham. In his spare is also a keen amateur brass musician and conductor, as well as acting as a trustee for two other musical charities. His son is a member of one of the SFE ensembles.
Awards we have won for our services
During the past few years, we have been honoured with several major accolades, both regionally and nationally, in recognition of our work, approach and achievements.
2024 Winner
Training Provider or educational establishment of the year
2023 Winner
Excellence in SEND
In partnership with Soundabout
2022 Winner
the Arts, culture and heritage award
2022 Winner
Outstanding Charity of the Year
2021 Winner
OUTSTANDING MUSIC EDUCATION RESOURCE
2021 WINNER
#GOLDSTARS AWARD
2021 Winner
Innovation in Education Award
2021 Winner
Excellence in Training and Education
2019 Winner
Excellence in Training and Education
2019 Winner
Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
2018 Winner
Music Education Council Major Award
2018 Winner
Contribution to Education
2018 Silver winner
Birmingham schools' brass band championship sections
Our values are extremely important to us
Our mission is to provide services in support of excellence in the teaching, learning, and wellbeing of young people and adults. We do this by applying these principles:
What our customer and students say about us…
Safeguarding
After training in DSL across three local authorities and different providers, this is by far the best training I’ve been to!
It is excellent. The trainers are not regurgitating the legal documents. It’s hands on and practical with real on the ground “walk-through” advice of processes and forms.
Excellent. Absolutely excellent.
Beverley Walker-Gordon – Headteacher – The Orchards Primary Academy, Greenheart Learning Partnership
One of the best updates I have attended, the training will support the critical reflection of the DSLs in my school
Sukhbinder Gosal – World’s End Junior School
Great opportunities for an honest discussion across schools and to see successes from other schools and to see and compare and share good practise tips.
Assistant head teacher
Course leader was absolutely fabulous. So nice to have someone relatable, not being out of the classroom long, delivering courses. Message of the course was received well due to the level of empathy and understanding of our role. Thank you very much!
Sophie O’Neill Class TEacher – St Bernards Catholic Primary School
Curriculum Area Training
RE COURSE: Simone was very knowledgeable in the field of RE and was able to answer many of my questions based around Special Education.
Lori Hake, SUBJECT LEADER – Victoria Special School
ENGLISH COURSE: Emma was lovely and incredibly personable. Her delivery was clear, calm and concise and it was very reassuring how she went through all the stages of the training leaving plenty of room for reflection and discussion. I really enjoyed the session with Emma and have taken back lots of pointers to include in my wider teaching practise.
Huma Khan, class teacher
MATHS COURSE: Useful session, lots to think about that relate to more than just a Maths setting when considering TAs roles.
Edward Tierney, Teaching Assistant – Archway School
Statutory Assessment
I just wanted to email you to thank you personally for today’s KS2 course – it was great! You jam packed it full, with excellent content and a perfect balance of going through content and then looking at the writing pieces at the end to moderate.
Sarah Richards, Head of Department – BEST Academies
Denise was very thorough and informative as always and gave time for delegates to ask questions. She was able to provide all the necessary information needed to ensure the PSC is administered correctly within schools.
Jessica Sparkes, Assistant Headteacher – Yarnfield Primary School
Denise was a fantastic presenter and was extremely knowledgeable in all areas of the screening check. All our questions were answered with ease.
Helen Griffin, Classroom Teacher – Arden Primary School
National Professional Qualifications
A great day – lots of opportunities to share ideas and learn from others
NPQLTD delegate
Helen is an excellent facilitator. She supportive and informative.
NPQLTD delegate
The presentations we did in small groups were really effective”, “A good and engaging session
NPQLBC delegate
Health for Life Programme
Many thanks for the resources which you have sent through. Thank you for organising such a valuable course – the presenters and content were exceptional. (Let’s Cook event)
Claire Peart – Lozells Junior and Infant
Services For Education has worked with us since the inception of our Health for Life® programme, helping to develop and deliver a successful healthy lifestyle programme for Birmingham schools, focusing on healthy eating and cookery, growing food and physical activity. We are proud of the partnership, particularly valuing Services For Education’s experience and understanding of the school environment with its multiple priorities and demands. The team’s flexibility, commitment and enthusiasm to support and guide schools in adopting the Health for Life programme has led to long-lasting impact on participating schools’ curriculum and culture, encouraging and enabling pupils, families and school staff to lead healthier lifestyles. We are delighted to see the positive changes which have been achieved in primary, nursery and secondary schools over the last 12 years and are pleased to have now reached half the primary schools in the city. We look forward to continuing our partnership to involve more schools in Health for Life.
Kelly Farrell, Community Affairs and Sustainability Manager – Mondelez International
Music
I’ve been able to improve my playing immensely thanks to orchestra peers and tutors pushing me, I have made a number of friends and have had amazing opportunities throughout the year to play some great music in some of the UK’s most renowned concert halls.
lucas houldcroft – trumpet student
Our students do not easily collaborate so to work together, editing and improving to make music, has been a positive challenge and they are visibly learning and enjoying the experience. It’s the layering of their combined efforts which is lovely to witness.
debbie poole, class teacher – baskerville school
Through Services For Education, I was able to have free instrumental tuition, free instrument loans and access to free coached ensembles ranging from their Big Band through to their Symphony Orchestra. They equipped me with all the tuition and tools that I needed throughout my 10 years with them completely free of charge. Music education can be a life changer and a lifesaver; it can level the playing field and provide people with the skills they will need to tackle an increasing challenging and demanding work place.
Xhosa Cole – Former Ensembles Member and Winner of BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2018
Charity Funded Projects
I wanted to quickly drop an email and share some lovely news. One of our year 11 students who takes lessons is a looked after child so there was a meeting last week with social workers etc.
The feedback from the meeting is that the student is only engaging in music and he has said music is what is keeping him going at the minute, in particular his instrumental lessons.
I just want to thank SFE for all your hard work with this student and congratulate you on being such a positive influence to what can be a difficult child. Thanks for all your hard work
Anonymous talking about our Music cares project
Our involvement has been so beneficial for E. We joined during lockdown and we looked forward to the sessions hugely, they were so cheering and uplifting. E found it wonderful to be part of a group where she felt accepted and celebrated. Her confidence in her ability to sing and perform has increased and she has since started having singing lessons and joined another choir as well!
Parent of Inclusive choir Member
I just wanted to send you a message to say how amazing M and my dad found Tiger Tiger – when I called my dad after work he was absolutely buzzing about it and it sounded incredible!! Both M and the other service user who went got so much from it. I had a tear in my eye when my dad was talking to me about it all and how much M communicated non verbally. I really hope it is successful for you all because it is such a wonderful opportunity you are giving to adults like M. I really hope there is one session in a half term so that I can go with M!!! Congratulations on this amazing project. Best wishes, E x
Emily, Tiger Tiger family member
We have seen all students in the class engaging in the sessions, following their peers, playing musical patterns and reading simple rhythm cards – something not all were able to do last year. Reaching children with a lot of additional needs is a real challenge when operating remotely, but with the full support of teaching staff at the school, we have made some excellent progress”
Amy Swallow – SFE Project Lead at Braidwood School
