WYMH are initially seeking to appoint one primary school and one secondary school for each geographical LA area across West Yorkshire. In addition, they are also looking for representation from Post 16, SEND and Alternative Provision. The work of Lead Schools commences in April 2025 with the role being to champion music education and to develop and nurture local school relationships/networks as part, and on behalf of the Hub. You can find more detailed information about the Lead Schools in the first part of the application including rationale, ambitions and remuneration. Successful Lead Schools will also be able to access the Music Hub Capital Grant and submit a spending plan for up to £2000 for instruments and equipment to support their work.

Please note that the application closely follows the criteria and requirements as set out by the DfE. These also include that Lead Schools must have a published a summary of their School Music Development Plan on their website and also have an overall school Ofsted rating of Good or Outstanding or equivalent.

The application form can be found here and the deadline for submissions is 4pm on Wednesday 26th February. Please email your completed form to WYMH@bradford.gov.uk. For further information please contact us at Wymh.artforms@leeds.gov.uk.

Sam Mercer – Music Curriculum Support Manager, ArtForms

Friday 17th May
9:00-3:00
Pudsey Civic Hall

Music Connect is our programme of curriculum support for music leaders in all Leeds schools.  The termly Music Leaders Network is an important part of Music Connect, bringing music leaders together from primary schools across Leeds to share experiences and discuss the latest developments in music education.

Since the start of the pandemic our network meetings moved online, increasing attendance due to the convenience of accessing a twilight session from school or home.  However, we really value face to face events for Music Leaders to truly network which is why we have created the new conference.

This year the conference will include –

An Ofsted Deep Dive panel discussion sharing experiences from Joe Barton, CEO of the LEODIS trust and an Ofsted inspector, Yvonna Georghiou, Music Lead at Otley St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and Annie Bradbury, Music Lead at Cockburn Haigh Road Academy.

There will also be workshops from –

• Sue Nicholls – A Fresh Look at Composition for key stages 1&2.  Sue is a vastly experienced music teacher who works nationwide as a music education consultant delivering workshops, seminars, keynotes and CPD as well as being published author for Collins (Music Express) and OUP.
• Sing Up – Sharon Durrant from https://www.singup.org will explore the new Sing Up curriculum and provide Music Leaders with free access to resources that can be shared with the non-specialist Music teachers in their school.
• Musical Futures – Fran Hannan from www.musicalfuturesonline.org will lead an interactive session on the chair drumming resources from their free resource library which attendees can use with both their classes and share with colleagues.

Music Connect receives funding from LMEP which enables ArtForms to offer the programme to Leeds Schools and Academies at no charge.

Sign up here – Primary Music Leaders Conference.

For more information please email Sam.Mercer@leeds.gov.uk

Sam Mercer – Music Curriculum Support Manager, ArtForms

The process can include a look at:

• Planning
• Resources
• Staff CPD
• Inclusion and SEND support
• Assessment
• Live music and visiting artists
• Non-curricular music
• Performances and events
• Documentation
• OFSTED preparation

We are able to offer support and advice or sometimes just a second pair of eyes to look over it all! If you would like to book in a review meeting at your school, please send an email to educ.artforms@leeds.gov.uk.

Lee Muncaster, Senior Curriculum Leader, ArtForms

Around a year ago it was announced that 5 current nearby hub areas (Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale) would be combining to form one large West Yorkshire Music Hub. Organisations were invited to tender to be the new Hub leads and the 5 current area hub leads worked together to submit a joint bid in the Autumn. Currently, we are still waiting to hear whether that bid has been successful and we expect to find out in April according to the government’s timeframe.

What this means for us in practice is that until we receive word that we have been successful in our bid, we are unable to be 100% sure about our LMEP offer for schools for next year. Usually by now, we would have released our LMEP offer for 24/25. We hope and expect that it will stay the same, retaining current levels of cashback subsidies but until we receive that final confirmation, we are unable to publish it in the usual timeframe.

For now, we ask that schools go ahead and book music provision on Leeds for Learning as usual for next year based on current levels of cashback and bursaries. We will then issue a quote as usual for the work based on next academic year’s prices. In the highly unlikely event that there is a change in the cashback levels for next year following the announcement in April, we would then contact all schools and they would have the option to adjust their booking as necessary. Thank you to all for your understanding in this matter, we will keep you updated as and when we hear any new information.

Lee Muncaster, Senior Curriculum Leader, ArtForms

To view the full newsletter, please follow the link below:

Secondary Music Newsletter – February 2024

To receive it directly by email, please sign up through Leeds for Learning. If you would like to be included in our next issue, please contact Jane.Roe@leeds.gov.uk.

On Friday 15^th March we are hosting the return of our secondary singing day which in previous years has featured Mark De-Lisser (2018) and Craig Lees (2019).  Craig is now returning for the first secondary vocal day since COVID. This is partly in response to feedback from our LMEP Secondary Music Leaders Network sessions where requests for more, high level singing opportunities for secondary school students and the chance for schools to sing collaboratively, were requested by Heads of Music in Leeds.

The need to improve both the amount of singing and the opportunities to sing more demanding repertoire is supported by the recent Music Subject Report from Ofsted which stated that – The strongest aspect of the curriculum in primary schools was teaching pupils to sing. In secondary schools, curriculum content that developed pupils’ singing and vocal work was far rarer. Singing was a significant aspect of the curriculum in only a very small number of secondary schools. Most secondary schools did not build on the strong progress and enjoyment that pupils had experienced in their singing at primary school.

All secondary schools in Leeds are invited to take part in this event for individual singers and choirs from Yr 9 up to Yr 13. The structure of the day will be to learn 2 pop song arrangements in multiple parts and then to perform them en masse at the end of the day. Regular breaks will be planned throughout the workshop to protect voices. All participating schools will be provided with sheet music of Craig’s arrangements so that choirs can perform them back in school and/or groups of singers can rehearse their parts and record for exam coursework submissions. This event is fully funded by LMEP, with no charge to Leeds schools. Book tickets here. For more information please contact Jane.Roe@leeds.gov.uk.

Please note that as this event is fully funded, students will be expected to bring their own lunch and refreshments.

Craig is a Contemporary Vocal Coach, Choral Director, and Arranger. He is a Senior Lecturer on the Popular Music Degree at Leeds College of Music. To read more about his career, see his biography here.

Leeds Conservatoire are also offering discounted tickets to all students and staff involved in the secondary vocal workshop for the following events –

‘The Road to Joy’ Contemporary Pop choir concert: Thursday 21 March, 7.30PM, The Venue

‘The Road to Joy’ Contemporary Pop choir concert: Friday 22 March, 7.30PM, The Venue

For more information please contact Jane.Roe@leeds.gov.uk