Secondary Schools Newsletter
Secondary Schools Newsletter – January 2025
Fao: Head of Music and Music Teacher
Dear Colleague
I hope that 2025 has started well for you and your school community.
You will hopefully already have seen in our January Hub Newsletter many exciting musical opportunities available to young people and schools in West Sussex this term.
As always, we appreciate your support in sharing details of opportunities with your pupils and families so that all children in West Sussex have the opportunity to access these high-quality music making activities.
Opportunities for you….
- Sussex Secondary Music Conference 2025 – SAVE the date
“Powering up Creativity, Collaboration and Innovation across the Music Curriculum”
Save the date – Thursday 19 June 2025 @ University of Sussex.
Online series:
- How to Advocate for Music as a Subject – 15 January 4:45pm – 6pm Online (Music Mark)
- Inclusion for Children with Physical Disabilities – 22 January 3.30pm – 5pm Online (Music Mark)
- In conversation with Zoe Booth, ABRSM Chief Examiner – 29 January 12pm – 1pm Online (Music Mark)
- Integrating Arts Award into Music Teaching 19 February 10.30am – 12pm Online (Music Mark)
- Embedding Diversity in Your Music Teaching 26 February 4.45pm – 6.00pm Online (Music Mark)
- Empowering Teachers, Amplifying Voices 4 March 4pm – 5pm Online (Music Mark)
- T-Time for classroom teachers 17 March 4pm – 5pm Online (Music Mark)
Music Mark supports its members through training and resources, connects them with the wider Music Education network across the UK, and influences on their behalf at a national level. I strongly encourage you to become a member of Music Mark which provides a host of additional opportunities for CPD, resources, and networking. If you’re interested in becoming a member or wish to renew your free membership for 2024-25, please click here
Sings Live is our free West Sussex secondary schools singing offer, which is aimed at KS3 students (11-14yr olds), school choirs (11-18 yr olds) and SEND secondary schools (11-18yr olds). Sings Live! brings together multiple secondary schools across the county to create a massed choir.
This term we have two public performances involving multiple schools:
- Sings Live! South – Tue 11 February, 6pm @ Worthing Assembly Hall
- Sings Live! North – Thu 27 February, 6pm @ Christ’s Hospital
If you’d like to attend to see what these events are all about or would like a visit to discuss developing singing in your school, please contact rachel.maby@westsussexmusic.co.uk
Opportunities for students…
Strings Day – Friday 31 January
Following on from last year’s incredibly successful Benedetti strings day, please could you make string players in your school aware of this year’s Strings on Friday 31 January, at Emmanuel Church, Worthing by sharing this link: share the following link West Sussex Music Strings Day
This inspiring workshop will be led by specialist string tutors from West Sussex Music and is designed especially for young violin, viola, cello, and double bass players from confident beginner up to stage/grade 3.
We appreciate that this is a school day and are clear in our communications to families that they will need to request your authorisation to attend.
Creative Industries Career Day – Friday 31 January
In partnership with other arts organisations, we’re inviting students and their teachers to an unmissable day of discovery in the creative industries at Chichester Festival Theatre. Dive into inspiring sessions with creative organisations large and small. Meet with artists, designers, theatre-makers, writers, musicians and creatives, and find out about careers and the endless possibilities ahead. This day is designed for students from Year 9 to Year 13 (and beyond)
Please could you publicise to your students and colleagues across the arts.
Online Music Production – starting January
We’re launching a new online course for students interested in music production. Run in partnership with Education&Bass this weekly course is designed for students in Year 7 to Year 11. Please could you publicise to your students
Following a hugely successful run of sessions last term, West Sussex Music’s inclusive SEND orchestra is back, with four free sessions this half-term.
Orchestras Inc. is an inclusive, creative music group for children and young people under 25 with special educational needs or disabilities, and their parents or carers.
This term Orchestras Inc. is set to meet on the following dates, from 12.30pm – 1.30pm:
Saturday 18 January; Saturday 25 January; Saturday 1 February; Saturday 8 February
For more information, including a welcome video, and how to book, see here.
Live music performances
Kidenza joins forces with Ann Bryant to bring Peter and the Timber Wolf to your school!
A contemporary telling of a great old tale, with familiar music and wonderful illustrations on screen as well as other pieces from the model music curriculum. Ann is an internationally acclaimed author of numerous music curriculum resources and Kidenza is a critically acclaimed professional orchestra. For further information email education@kidenza.co.uk for further details.
James Underwood
CEO
West Sussex Music