John Witchell's Chief Executive blog

Dear Colleagues

 Welcome back to the FMS after what I hope has been a relaxing summer break.  Heads of services have been dispersed around the world, either relaxing on beaches, evaluating the local vineyard or even policing boisterous members of the brass department during the middle of the night (Oh what memories I have!).  August is a month that seems to disappear and all of a sudden we find ourselves in the middle of a new term with all the joys and tribulations that that brings.

 I think we all realise that this in many ways is a crunch year for music education.  So it’s good that the government has decided to call this the Year of Music – it gives us the opportunity to tell our good news story and make it clear that we are indispensible to the world of music and essential to the world of education.  Heads of services will already have received a request from Sarah Adamson for details of forthcoming activities that could be included in the Year of Music programme; she has also asked for web links, so that we can ensure that YOUR activities have high visibility.  I intend to ensure that music services are up front throughout the year and will do all I can promote them.  But please make sure that you make the most of the opportunity as well.

 You may be pleased to hear that we are now on the road with our partnership with Think Again, led by Marc Jaffrey.  Even though the first phase of the campaign is limited to 25 or so services the intention is to ensure that the benefits flow through to all services.  Indeed it will be important to roll out to a wider range of services early next year.  Marc and his team will help us to articulate our vision, purpose and values to all the key stakeholders.  Our message must clearly show how music services really are at the heart of music education and we must tell the story of our achievements for the sake of all the people and communities we serve.

 To that end, may I reinforce a message from Jennifer Hopkins about the impact assessment on Wider Opportunities?  We have collected considerable data from the focus music services, but are a little disappointed (though perhaps not surprised) with the number of completed returns to the school survey.  Jennifer tells us that we have a couple more weeks at the beginning of term to nudge, push or cajole the schools into completing the form on-line.  We’re also asking you to ask your Wider Opportunities teachers to check that their schools have completed the survey on their first visit of term.  That way we will increase the response so that it is valid.  Please help if you can, and thank those who help us.  And don’t let’s forget that this piece of work will be critical to ongoing viability of the key stage two instrumental programme.

 Instrumental teaching is also mentioned in the government’s latest white paper on education.  As part of the new Pupil Guarantee the curriculum will be tailored to every child’s need so that, “by September 2011, every primary pupil receives the support they need to………… learn about the arts such as learning to play a musical instrument.”  If it’s a government commitment, we need to ensure that a) we can deliver it and b) we have the resources to sustain and further develop it.  The White Paper is easily accessible and I think it is worth reading at least the executive summary.  On the DCSG website it is called “Your child, your school, our future”.

 This term sees the next phase of moderation of self evaluation for music services.  Some services will be undertaking the moderation for the first time, whilst others will be moving to the Second Visit Review.  The second year is designed to follow on seamlessly from the first and focus on progress made on the main areas of development during the year.  Whilst no-one can say that the process doesn’t involve additional work, the overwhelming feedback is very positive; in particular colleagues say how it has enabled them to focus on the performance of their service much more specifically than before.  As you know, the DCSF is keenly watching the programme, not least because it has funded the first two years in England.  Our task now is to ensure that self evaluation really does help to raise standards as well as our profile, so it is essential that we continue the implementation this year and spread the programme to Wales and Northern Ireland, albeit within their different funding parameters.  If you have any concerns with the programme, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

 The self evaluation programme is closely aligned to Local Authority Music Plans and you will no doubt have received a communication from Richard Hallam, National Music Participation Director reminding us of the agenda this term in developing the local strategies for music education.  Following the last national executive it was agreed that we would provide a little more guidance that will help those who are writing the plans.  Dick has already done an enormous amount, but I recognise that it would be helpful to provide a template that helps you to cover the ground in the most efficient way.

 So we certainly have everything to play for this year – literally.  In all this activity may I urge you to take care of yourself and ensure that you protect your work/life balance?  Not many people outside music services really understand the volume of work that we undertake – timetables, teachers, schools, pupils, parents, ensembles, projects, school improvement, national aspirations, budgets etc etc.  It’s a huge workload, but one that has enormous rewards when we experience the joy of music on the faces of our young musicians.  Last week I attended a concert by former members of my previous youth orchestra.  Ninety odd people, now in all walks of life, were reunited and gave a superb performance of Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony.  I realised that the music service had provided those people with the life-long love of music; and that without our input their lives would be all the poorer.  Their music-making was my joy; my reward was their music-making.  So have a very good year and don’t forget to be a vigorous member of the FMS.

 John Witchell

PS – from 3^rd September I will have no home – really sad!  From that date my FMS telephone number will be no longer.  Please use my mobile number (07850 761067) or the FMS office number (01943 463311) to contact me, or my e-mail address: john.witchell@federationmusic.org.uk

PPS - if you have a nice house for sale at a bargain price, let me know!

← Conference jottings is an earlier blog entry We’re on board for the National Year of Music is a more recent blog entry →

This entry was posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 5:27 pm and is filed under Blog.

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