Discover our Training & Events for Spring 2026

Join us in Spring 2026 for our exciting programme of training and events! With sessions designed for professionals in leadership roles, supporting roles, and teachers, there are plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and how you support and work with young people. 

Read on to discover our training and events for the upcoming spring term to help you enhance your music education practice. 

Supporting Music Education Professionals

Carbon Literacy Training (dates TBC)
Continuing the work to support music education to become more sustainable, we are running another Carbon Literacy course. This two-part Carbon Literacy certified training course will help you build understanding and develop clear and personalised next steps for your organisation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This course is aimed at anyone working in the music education sector who is looking to increase their awareness of carbon dioxide costs, impacts, and most importantly how to reduce emissions. The course would be especially useful for anyone who has a responsibility for sustainability and carbon reduction within their role and/or leaders who are able to impact change. Our Carbon Literacy trainers work in music education and understand the nuances and challenges of the sector. Complete our expression of interest form to be notified of the dates.

Mental Health first aid with soundcastle – 5th & 12th March 2026
Become a Mental Health First Aider with Soundcastle! Join them for this two-part series to explore many practical ways to support mental health in music education settings and gain a FAA Level 2 Award qualification in First Aid for Mental Health. Following three sold out mental health courses delivered by Soundcastle, we’re delighted to be working with them again to support more music educators getting training in Mental Health first aid. 

PR and Communication: Helping your work shine bright – 11th March 2026
This two-hour online workshop looks at ways participants can raise their profile internally and externally, and make sure their messages are heard and remembered. We’ll look at ways to make communications relevant to different audiences, and options for constructing impactful public messages that hit the mark. We’ll also touch on PR strategy and channels of communication.

‘Previous delegates have said:
“Very accessible and informative. Got some great ideas and have already made a start on our PR strategy!

Inclusion 

Navigating Intersectionality with Belonging Effect – 28th Jan & 11th March 2026
We’ve teamed up with Belonging Effect (formerly Diverse Educators) to deliver a two-part course on intersectionality in education, to help people consider and build truly inclusive spaces.

Disability Inclusive Classrooms with Celebrating Diversity – 24th March 2026
This session is designed for educators working with students of all abilities, whether you’re teaching whole classes, small groups, or individual learners. We’ll explore how to create an inclusive classroom environment, adapt your teaching to meet a wide range of needs, and empower every student to participate fully in music education.

Schools 

T-Time: Assessment at all key stages; let’s get the conversation started 5th February 2026
In the aftermath of the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review report, this is an opportunity to have your say. Whether you are heading into GCSE time, or you are a Primary teacher where SATs occupy your assessment attention, this session provides focused time to delve into the crucial elements needed to assess young people’s musical ability and provide evidence of attainment in music education. Our speakers have a wealth of opinion and breadth of expertise on assessment, they join us from DRET, a multi-academy trust; Pearson and OCR, awarding bodies for GCSE, A-level and vocational qualifications; and ABRSM, the exam board of the Royal Schools of Music providing graded assessments in vocal and instrumental practical, performance and theory.

Providing Equitable, Diverse, & Inclusive Music Teaching | Secondary Music Teaching Series – 4th February 2026
Jenetta Hurst will explore and give guidance on curriculum approaches that incorporate and promote inspirational diverse ethnic representation and content. She will share strategies for facilitating inclusive and joyful music rooms for students with special educational needs and disabilities. This session is part of the Secondary Music Teaching Series.

Higher Education & Further Education 

Higher and Further Education Peer Group – 15th January 2026
Meet with colleagues working across Further and Higher Education to share best practice, discuss challenges, and support departmental excellence through collaboration and peer support. Sign up to the peer group here, you must sign up at least a week before the next session to guarantee joining instructions will be received.

Beyond Enrichment: Rethinking Music and Employability – 18th March 2026
With ‘enrichment’ having been directly referenced in the Curriculum and Assessment Review and the governmental focus on the skills agenda, this virtual session considers how to strike a balance between championing music’s transferable skills and simultaneously advocating for music as a discipline in its own right. The panel brings together specialists from both inside and outside of music education to reflect upon the role of music in a world where artificial intelligence is becoming more dominant and uniquely human characteristics are increasing in perceived value. This session will be followed by a wider discussion to explore the next steps, such as who we need to reach, what language best articulates our message, and how we can work across levels of education as a united voice.

Peer groups & mentoring

Our peer groups, mentoring and coaching opportunities are available all year round exclusively for Music Mark Members! At no cost to you, you can take advantage of a range of facilitated peer groups to meet colleagues in similar roles across the UK for peer-to-peer learning and problem-solving, as well as six hours of mentoring or coaching from our trained mentors and professional coaches to support your professional development. Sign up to our peer groups here, you must sign up at least a week before the next session to guarantee joining instructions will be received. Discover our mentoring opportunities here.

Coming soon…

Primary teaching series | Providing equitable, diverse, & inclusive music in the Primary classroom (with Beat Goes On and ALBION).
This twilight session will inspire and equip the primary classroom teacher with two very different approaches to support music making that is accessible to all using what is readily available in your primary school. Colleagues from Albion computers that specialise in digital learning will demonstrate music teaching and learning using ipads (if you have an iPad/ iphone you can install the GarageBand app for free and ‘play along’ using your device). Beat Goes On will then move the learning from the screen to the physical application of how you can teach musical concepts by using body percussion. 

If there’s anything you’d like us to include in our events programme, or if you’d like early updates on the return of our most in-demand sessions, please complete our expression of interest form.

Make sure to explore the Make Your Mark: Notes on Music Education podcast. A series of insightful conversations with educators, leaders, musicians and advocates from across the music education sector. Each episode opens up honest, inspiring discussions about the issues shaping our sector, from inclusion and access to policy, practice and the power of music itself.