Music Mark
The UK Association for Music Education
Ofsted’s Christopher Stevens, HMI National Lead for Music returns to speak with Music Mark, this time with a focus on the new music subject report.
Read our summary of The Department for Education’s strategy for sustainability and climate change for the education and children’s services systems.
76% of Music Hubs and Services in England participated in a survey to help us understand the impact of their rising costs on children and young people. Read our report on the financial pressures facing Music Hubs and Music Services in England.
Read our summary of the Ofsted subject report on the quality of music education in the schools inspected in England.
If you’re a Music Mark Member, Industry Partner or Music Mark School, our Welcome Packs will help you make the most of your membership with all the details on how to use the benefits of your subscription.
A recording of the Music Hub Partnership Models webinar and accompanying resources.
Music Mark is developing template documents to help schools prepare their School Music Development Plan.
A series of templates for elements of the Local Plan for Music Education (LPME) has been developed by Gary Griffiths for Music Mark.
An Equity, Diversity and Inclusion movement for the Music Education sector.
MusEd Safe is a partnership between Brass Bands England and Music Mark that gives Music Mark members discounted access to the Brass Bands England Body of Persons Approval (BOPA) to cover groups for child performance lisencing requirements.
In April and July 2023, Bates Wells joined Music Mark to explain the options for organisations partnering to create Music Hubs in the context of the Arts Council England Music Hub Investment Programme.
In April 2023, Aurora Orchestra joined Music Mark to discuss its musical resources for Early Years, Key Stage 1, and SEND teachers.
Music Mark’s vision for music education, our mission for how we will do our part in meeting that vision, our values as a charity and the four strategic priorities which form the primary focus of our work for the next three years.
Learn how to create practical music lessons for KS1 & KS2 classrooms with Reading University’s Dr. Rebecca Berkley.
This updated guide provides valuable information for governors of schools across England about the importance, benefits, and value of music education.
Ofsted’s Christopher Stevens, HMI National Lead for music, explains what to expect from a Deep Dive in music.
Explore routes into a career in vocal/instrumental teaching.
This webinar, chaired by Every Copy Counts Director Abigail D’Amore, is an opportunity to learn key information about the licenses schools already have, and what schools’ obligations are in terms of reporting data.
With the support of funding from Arts Council England, The Music Hub Support Programme 2022/2023 offered training, advice, coaching, metoring and more to all employees working in Music Hubs across England.
Take a look at our annual review for the academic year 2021/22 to find out how we have been supporting our members and the wider music education sector, and how we plan to continue to support, connect, and influence in future.
Watch recordings of the training sessions from our April 2022 CPD Day.
The Music Hub Investment Programme, administered by Arts Council England, gave organisations the opportunity to apply to become a Hub Lead Organisation for the Music Hub programme sarting in September 2024. We collated resources relating to the Investment Programme here.
ABRSM is piloting an Exam Discount Scheme designed to ease some of the financial barriers that families can face in accessing exams. If students have reached the standard required to take ABRSM exams but have been put off by the cost of exam fees, this scheme will enable music services to set a discount of up to 95% that enables them to access exams and receive a recognised qualification.
This webinar recording includes includes discussions on the strategic management of instrument stocks, repairs & storage across the country.
An introduction to Trinity College’s new Awards and Certificates in Musical Development for people with learning difficulties.
A webinar hosted by Music Mark and featuring discussion around the genesis of the National Plan for Music Education in Wales, the National Music Service for Wales and the implications of the Plan.
On 17 May 2022, The Welsh Government release their National Plan for Music Education. Find out more about the plan in our collated list of resources.
This directory provides information about the wide range of accredited qualifications in vocal and instrumental teaching that are available in the UK.
Live sound, PAs, microphones, amplifiers, speakers, Zoom and much more.
Ofsted’s Christopher Stevens, HMI National Lead for music, presents the latest thinking on effective assessment of music in schools.
This guide outlines how Music Mark’s online vocal and instrumental curriculum, A Common Approach, can be used to support new teachers, giving them a solid foundation of knowledge and skills as they embark on their careers.
Christopher Stevens HMI (Ofsted’s new National Lead for Music) presents the key findings of Ofsted’s Music Research Review and discusses what these are telling us about music curriculum design.
Recordings of two webinars chaired by Bridget Whyte and Phil Castang where panellists discuss the refreshed National Plan for Music Education in England and answer your questions.
In this resource we have compiled resources and additional information relating to the National Plan for Music Education 2022: The Power of Music to Change Lives.
This resource, written by Sam Stimpson, provides information and advice on the expectation of Arts Council England when it comes to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Case studies and guidance for meaningfully incorporating Youth Voice into your music education organisation.
Watch recordings of the training sessions from our September 2021 CPD Day.
Watch recordings of the training sessions from our January 2022 CPD Day.
Recordings and resources from our online sessions curated by Nate Holder of Why Music, exploring rap, hip hop, blues, steel pan, grime, jazz and much more.
A resource pack covering employment, contracts, IR35, DBS checks, holiday pay and more.
Budgets, policies, debt, contracts, reports, bookkeeping, VAT, strategy… learn more in this series of resources and recorded webinars.
A series of webinars to support you in understanding and implementing each area of the Talk into Action pledge.
Susan Hallam and Evangelos Himonides, authors of The Power of Music: An Exploration of the Evidence, present their research.
Recordings and resources from our webinar series with Musicians Without Borders.
Keynote speech and performance using MiMu gloves from singer, songwriter and music technologist Kris Halpin from Music Mark Annual Conference in Brighton, 2021.
Information to refer to regarding regarding Child Performance Licensing now that live performances have resumed post pandemic.
Recording of our online Q&A session with Viki Smith, General Manager and Abigail D’Amore of the Printed Music Licensing Limited.
Take a look at our annual review for the academic year 2020/21 to find out how we have been supporting our members and the wider music education sector, and how we plan to continue to support, connect, and influence in future.
Recommendations from Talk into Action pledgees of books, podcasts, social media accounts and video content they’ve engaged with and found valuable.
Watch recordings of the training sessions from our April 2021 CPD Day.
Resources from our Youth Voice Series exploring a range of ways to incorporate the voices of young people in organisational decision making.
Mark Phillips HMI (Ofsted’s National Lead for Music) gives an update on Ofsted’s work, reflecting on the music subject review published in July.
A recording and transcript of the keynote speech from the award-winning composer, music historian and broadcaster Howard Goodall, given at our Autumn Term CPD Day in September 2021.
A summary of the Partnership Innovation Fund projects we’ve supported as part of the Underpinning Hubs for the Future programme. This fund was launched in 2021 to help Music Education Hubs to stabilise and grow following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Download our free, printable A3 Get Playing poster celebrating 10 0f the many benefits of musical learning, to share and display with your own network.
Get Playing is a national campaign which celebrates some of the amazing benefits of musical learning, whilst signposting young learners to their local music hub/service.
Watch recordings of the training sessions from our January 2021 CPD Day.
Our Music Education Hub Support Programme 2021/2022 offered an enhanced variety of training and resources to help support the development of Music Education Hubs through two programmes – Underpinning Hubs for the Future and the Workforce Development Programme. Find out more about the programme with links to useful resources included.
Watch a recording of the webinar hosted by the partners leading the #CanDoMusic campaign on 26th April in discussion of the new Model Music Curriculum.
A research report exploring workforce diversity and representation in London Music Education Hubs through the lens of racism. This research report was commissioned by Music Mark, in partnership with London Music Education Hubs, written and prepared by Samantha Spence.
A digitised copy of Reaching Out: Music Education with ‘hard to reach’ young people (2013)
The Department for Education’s 2021 Model Music Curriculum (MMC) supports curriculum music in schools during Key Stages 1, 2 and 3. The curriculum development was teacher led, with input from leading musicians and education sector bodies.
Download the 10 Things Schools Should Know About Music booklet and posters in Welsh translations.
This booklet summarises the 10 key benefits of music, from recognition within the National Plan for Music Education that music is an educational building block through to the inclusive nature of music irrespective of abilities.
Viki Smith, General Manager of Printed Music Licensing Limited, and Abigail D’Amore lead this Q&A session covering the Music Service Licence and the School’s Printed Music Licence.
Watch recordings of the training sessions from our September 2020 CPD Day.
Watch recordings of our CPD Days including inspiring keynote speeches and sessions on jazz, gime, rap, song-writing and lots more.
Music leader and Zoom facilitator James Redwood shares the games, exercises and approaches he has found effective in leading workshops remotely.
On the 20th November 2020, we ran our first ever virtual conference, Play On: the Music in Music Education, for our colleagues across the country and beyond. Watch our short video and read about some of our highlights!
Music Mark has collated a selection of resources intended to support mental health and wellbeing.
Mark Phillips talks about music in the context of the Education Inspection Framework including ‘deep dives’.
Watch Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason’s fascinating keynote speech on the role of the parent in supporting musical learning.
Watch the inspiring keynote speech from Dr Julia Jones aka Dr Rock at our 2020 Virtual Conference.
We are pleased to present our first ever Annual Review. Read more about what we have been doing over the past academic year for our members and the wider music education sector, and how we plan to continue to support, connect, and influence in future.
Music Mark conducted a quick survey of its English membership music services at the start of October to see how engagement with schools was compared to the start of the 2019/20 academic year. We have published the results and report here.
A letter template available in English and Welsh to send to schools advocating for the continuation of musical learning in schools under the risk assessments and safety guidance of Music Unlocked.
Sing Up and Music Mark commissioned Professor Martin Ashley to write some up-to-date guidance for schools in relation to managing coronavirus risks associated with singing for the start of the new academic year. We have deliberately waited until there was some concrete evidence to base this guidance on, and Professor Ashley has provided his guidance in the light of research published 20.08.20.
The #CanDoMusic campaign was created to support school and instrumental and vocal music teachers and signpost them to practical resources so that children and teachers #CanDoMusic in school. The campaign aimed to ensure all children and young people could resume their musical learning as schools reopened after the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Find out more about the Music Education Hub Support Programme 2020/2021 with links to useful resources included.
We have created a template to help you write to your local MP regarding music education in schools for the academic year 20/21.
We hosted our first entirely digital Summer Summit on 26th June 2020. There were speakers from ACE, DfE, Music Teacher’s Association and the wider Music Education sector. We discussed key topics relating to funding, music education in schools and the possibilities for ensemble learning now. Listen again here!
In addition to our Music Unlocked guidance these risk assessments have been prepared for use by Music Mark Members to support with the safe return to Music Teaching in schools.
Music Mark has worked alongside independent Music Education consultant Gary Griffiths to compile COVID-19 related guidance so you can make music safely in and out of school.
We have reviewed academic studies, and consulted our Members, the Music Teachers’ Association, the Music Industries Association, the Incorporated Society of Musicians and the Musicians’ Union, as well as individual sector experts, headteachers and teachers.
Following on from her article for Music Mark, Rachel Pink leads a webinar focusing on techniques to boost wellbeing and resilience in the light of the current pandemic.
Exploring the specific challenges around licensing in the new online teaching space is increasingly vital to Music Education Providers due to the Coronavirus Lockdown. This session consists of talks from the panellists followed by a Q&A with the session participants.
Two supplements to Nigel M Taylor’s Developing Organisational Resilience document.
Incomes of organisations and individuals are already being affected as a consequence of managing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Many will be thinking about their approach to fundraising to fill the gap in their budgets, with this in mind we’ve pulled together the relevant fundraising advice we could find for organisations and individuals.
Music Mark has collated information on how Music Education providers can adapt their provision for online learning including some key safeguarding considerations for this new way of working.
The latest information available on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Music Mark’s 2019 Conference took place in Cutlers’ Hall, Sheffield exploring the theme, ‘Play the Bigger Game’.
Documents, resources and information about what to expect from an Ofsted subject ‘deep dive’ in music.
Music Mark and the Musicians’ Union are delighted to launch a set of three guides which will provide advice and guidance to organisations who are engaging the music education workforce.
Speech by Bridget Whyte at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Music Education (APPG) forum, October 16th 2019.
Following a series of consultations involving its members over a 3 week period, Music Mark has produced this Consultation Paper to inform the Department of Education’s (DfE) Expert Panel for the development of a Model Music Curriculum.
The DfE and MERYC-ENGLAND joined discussions on a refreshed National Plan for Music Education.
A guide for Music Hubs by Nigel M Taylor, commissioned by Music Mark and supported by Arts Council England, as part of Music Mark’s wider Leadership Development Programme.
Find the latest Music Mark consultation as well as research from Sussex University and Ofsted presented at the Music Mark Annual Conference 2018.
Music Mark shares its October 2018 consultation of its members on the future of the National Plan for Music Education, pulled together by Music Mark Trustee Maureen Hanke.
Reporters Jack Solloway and Sam Nead from Voice, the magazine for young creatives supported by Trinity College London, will be taking over the Music Mark social media channels to bring you live and rolling coverage throughout the conference.
These General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) templates were produced as part of Music Mark’s Training on GDPR, led by Advice Partners Bates Wells.
Whole Class Ensemble Teaching (WCET) Research Report, commissioned by Music Mark and with Arts Council funding, lead by Professor Martin Fautley from Birmingham City University.
Full Conference Programme; Music Mark CEO Speech; Power Point presentations by Music Mark Annual Conference 2017 contributors.
Research and film clips illustrating successful approaches to Whole Class Ensemble Teaching (WCET).
We conceived of a programme that would connect London’s music teachers with each other in a way that transcended the barriers of their school gates.
Working with Nigel Taylor, Music Mark developed a system that can be used to audit a school’s music provision.
The Musical Bridges Programme, originally funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, provided resources, ideas, case studies as well as a comprehensive programme of transition activity to support pupils’ continuing musical journey from primary to secondary school.
As part of the Peer-to-Peer CPD Programme, Music Mark developed a progression framework to aid teachers in planning for musical progress.
Twenty years after it’s original publication, A Common Approach – the essential framework for a meaningful musical learning journey – has been relaunched, expanded and developed for the contemporary music educator.
An article published by National Governors’ Association in the September 2015 edition of Governing Matters explains what governors can do to ensure all pupils receive their musical entitlement.
Music Mark brought together colleagues from a range of education organisations to consider the production of some brief guidance for schools and music education hubs on how music in schools might be further developed and improved.
This booklet summarises the 10 key benefits of music, from recognition within the National Plan for Music Education that music is an educational building block through to the inclusive nature of music irrespective of abilities.
