Media Profiles
We are happy to provide expert opinion on music, educational and learning topics, please do get in touch using the individual emails/phone numbers below or call our Press Office at Clarke Associates on 0121 702 2525 or 07808 735 255 email david-c@clarke-associates.co.uk
Sharon Bell
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Sharon’s expertise is in educational leadership, commercial experience and extensive experience of HR and learning and development.
Tracy carlton
Director Marketing & business development
Tracy’s expertise is in strategic marketing within the educational context, marketing communications and product and business development
Stuart Birnie
head of the music service
Stuart’s expertise is in primary/secondary/post 16 instrumental learning, whole class instrumental teaching in primary schools, music in the arts and impact of music education.
Send Stuart an email.
Denise Harris
Education Adviser
Denise’s expertise is in assessment in primary schools and teaching of maths and numeracy.
Paul douglas
Head of SFE Music School
Paul’s expertise is in the impact of music education, event management and the music industry in education and music for faith communities.
Send Paul an email.
Andrew Straw
Head of Guitar and Keyboard
Andrew’s expertise is in Classical Guitar and Instrumental Teaching Methodology.
Send Andrew an email.
Harjit Singh
Head of World Music & Percussion
Harjit’s expertise is in teaching and developing world music in schools and the community.
Services For Education Profile
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 £6.9m (Y/E August 2020). Part-funded by the Arts Council, England it also has its own fund-raising and subsidised commercial operations.
Services For Education’s Music Service, one of the largest in the country, works with 93% of Birmingham schools and each year teaches music to nearly 38,000 children – as well as running 97 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.
Awards
Services For Education has been recognised regionally and nationally for its work:
- Music & Drama Education Awards:
2022: Excellence in Primary/Early Years ((Highly Commended)
2021: Outstanding Music Education Resource (winner)
2021: #Goldstars Awards
2020: Excellence in SEND (finalist) - Bett Awards 2022: Transformational Impact (finalist)
- Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Annual Awards:
2021: Excellence in Contribution to the community (finalist)
2021: Excellence in Training and Education (winner)
2020: Excellence in Sales & Marketing (finalist)
2019: Excellence in Training & Education (winner)
2018: Excellence in Training & Education (finalist) - Education Awards:
2019: Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community (winner)
2021/22: Transforming lives through partnerships (finalist; winner to be announced) - Educational Resources Awards 2019: The Educational Book Award (finalist)
- Birmingham Awards:
2018: Contribution to Education (winner)
2021: Excellence in Education (finalist) - Birmingham Post Business Awards 2018: Not-For-Profit Organisation of the Year (finalist)
- West Midlands Tech Awards 2021: Innovation in Education (winner)
Services For Education’s Annual Review for 2021 is available at: https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/annual-report-2021/
