Building a Successful Music Department

Values based leadership training for subject leaders and Heads of Music. Keep music and the arts not just afloat, but thriving, within your school.

Tue 18th Jun 2024 10.00 - 3.00pm

London

Hayes School, West Common Road, Bromley, BR2 7DB

Standard £175 Musical Futures Online Members Rate* £75

Book your place

Overview

‘Building a Successful Music Department’ offers the opportunity to explore strategies for values-based leadership based on keeping practical engagement with the arts at the heart of what we do in school.

The challenges facing subject leaders will be considered, and practical responses offered to issues such as working with senior leaders, curriculum design, Ofsted preparation, managing change, assessment, and funding.

The current Ofsted framework, with its emphasis on a broad and balanced curriculum, is returning some bargaining power to subject leaders fighting their corner for music and the arts. Many schools are returning to a 3-year Key Stage 3, and it is crucial for subject leaders to have great plans in place for a curriculum which is based on sound educational principles that keeps practical experience of the arts at its heart. Being able to plan for this, and articulate the rationale behind the plans to senior leaders and inspectors, is more important now than it ever has been.

This course will offer subject leaders the chance to consider a range of strategies for formulating, communicating, and delivering a music/arts curriculum, preparing for Ofsted, and keeping music and the arts not just afloat, but thriving, within their schools.

Course Leader: Jane Werry, experienced Head of Department and Musical Futures Senior Trainer

Aims of the Course

  • Learn strategies for ‘managing upwards’ and keeping your senior leaders on-side in maintaining/improving the position of music and the arts within your school
  • Take away ideas for curriculum planning based on sound musical principles, high educational standards and progression
  • Develop an understanding of Ofsted’s ‘three Is’ of intent, implementation, and impact, including how to communicate these to senior leaders and inspectors
  • Learn how to plan assessment for Key Stage 3 which is meaningful, manageable, and satisfies the requirements of school policy
  • Find out how you can bid for funding to help your department grow

Sessions

  • The place of music and the arts in schools – explore how schools are responding to the latest Ofsted framework, and where music and the arts fit into curriculum planning in the 2020s. Consider ways in which subject leaders can ‘fight their corner’ in defending and promoting the place of the arts in schools. Find out how to use an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to plan your vision.
  • Curriculum planning – what does a good music curriculum include? Learn how to identify the principles that will underpin your curriculum planning. Plan for the knowledge, skills, concepts and attributes that will be developed through your lessons, and ensure that progression is built in to plans across all Key Stages.
  • Navigating Ofsted – find out how to articulate your curriculum intent, implementation, and impact. Learn what you might expect in a ‘deep dive’ and how you can prepare for it.
  • Assessment – Making assessment valid, reliable, manageable and meaningful at KS3. Explore a range of strategies for setting up a system that works for your department, and provides valuable feedback to students about their progress without causing teacher burnout.
  • Funding – learn about a range of sources for extra funding, and how to write a successful bid, plus DIY ideas for making the most of funding opportunities.

What's included

  • 12 months Premium membership* (£149 + VAT) to musicalfuturesonline – which provides access to all resources used on the course
  • Tea/coffee and light refreshments

*For those who have purchased an Early Bird or Standard ticket and who do not have a current membership of Musical Futures Online

Who is it For?

  • Secondary music teachers
  • Heads of Department

Benefits of Musical Futures Training

  • Based in a school setting – A chance to see another department/school in action
  • Led by experienced subject leaders who have a track record of success through using these approaches
  • All of our courses are designed to give you the confidence, knowledge and resources to start delivery in your school the following day.
  • An opportunity to network with other music teachers

Book your place

  • Cost:
    • £160 – Early Bird: for bookings made up to 31.03.2024
    • £175 – Standard:  for bookings made from 01.04.2024
    • £75* – Special Rate: for teachers whose school already has a 12 month (annual) membership of Musical Futures Online OR a second member of staff from your school if you have purchased an Early Bird or Standard ticket
  • Places are limited and are available on a first come first served basis

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Terms & Conditions

For information about our cancellation policy and other conditions of booking please read our full Terms & Conditions

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