Category: Schools

2024's Kent & Medway Schools Conference brought together more than 150 passionate music educators for a day full of inspiration, learning, and connection.

In the music world, there’s a huge spectrum of instruments at your fingertips just waiting to be played. But for those with physical disabilities, accessing these instrumental options can be a challenge.

Do you wish you had high-quality, engaging music lessons already prepared for the whole school?   Are you keen to introduce ukulele but not sure where to start?  Need fresh ideas for your assemblies or songs for your developing choir?  Luckily, we can help – along with our new partner programme Sing Up.

Released in September 2023 this subject report gives a realistic review of music in schools between December 2022 and June 2023.

Being a Music Lead is a job unlike any other, no matter your background, how experienced you are or what you play. Whether you’re wrangling whole classes, setting up extracurriculars or championing your subject with SLT, there’s a unique set of joys and challenges that come with the role.

In the coastal town of Whitstable on Kent’s North coast, St Alphege CE Infant School and Sunbeams Nursery stands as a beacon of creativity and artistic excellence. This remarkable institution has not only achieved Artsmark Platinum status but also proudly bears the Music Mark School recognition, setting a precedent for arts and music education.

The transition for pupils as they move from primary to secondary education can be tough. Especially when it comes to music education, the difference in the environment can be stark and at worst can impact on students’ progression and desire to continue engaging with music. However, that doesn’t have to be the case! We were delighted to speak with Emily Renshaw-Kidd, Director of Music at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, about the school and how she approaches the transition period and supports a thriving music education environment in and out of school.

Every year Kent Music offers all schools in Kent the chance to access Funded Opportunities to support music education. From memberships to ensemble leaders and WCIT, there are lots of options for schools. One unique opportunity which Kent Music provide is Bespoke Support, an opportunity to work with a member of the Kent Music team to drive the development of music in your school.

This month we chatted to Emma Higgins, music lead at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Northfleet. Emma was subject to an Ofsted deep dive in music this year. We took the opportunity to quiz her about her experience in order to inform and guide us when carrying out Music Health Checks. Some schools have requested these in order to ensure they are fully prepared should they receive ‘The Call’.