Schools Newsletter – September 2026
Fao: Head of Music and Music Teacher
I hope the new academic year has started well for you and your school community.
We’re here to support your aspirations for music in your school. Our national music hub funding from the Department for Education enables many opportunities to be free of charge or highly subsidised with bespoke programmes and assistance still reasonably priced.
Updates…
Secondary music dept update (v. quick!) – Please could you spend 5 minutes completing this update questionnaire Secondary school music update – September 2026 – Fill in form to help us tailor our support opportunities this year.
Safeguarding
For the new academic year, all West Sussex Music teachers have completed mandatory safeguarding training and have read Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 part 1 (KCSiE).
The West Sussex Music Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy has been updated to reflect changes in KCSiE 2026. Letters of assurance are available to schools upon request to music@westsussexmusic.co.uk
Benedict’s Law
We are committed to aligning with school policies and procedures as much as possible. As part of our annual training, all WSM teachers have completed Anaphylaxis & Allergy Training.
We are amending our application processes and updating existing pupil records to ensure that parents/carers provide us with the information we need to keep pupils safe during music activities. Please inform our teachers if they are working with any child who is at risk of severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis.
Singing
We are delighted to welcome our new Schools Singing Leader, Claire Robins, who will be supporting and facilitating our well-established singing programmes for schools this year. Please do make yourself known to Claire at Claire.robins@westsussexmusic.co.uk should you want to support to embed singing in your school.
Sings Live!
A reminder that we have three Sings Live! workshops with our partners, The Sixteen in October. Please bring your choir or those students who you think will enjoy massed singing. To secure your place at an October workshop sign up here as soon as possible.
- Thursday 8 October, 10am-12noon: Davison CE High School for Girls, Worthing, BN11 2JX
- Tuesday 13 October, 10am-12noon: Hazelwick School, Crawley, RH10 1SX
- Thursday 15 October, 10am-12noon: Felpham Community College, Bognor Regis, PO22 8EL
Additionally, the Sings Live! webpage gives details of the spring term Sings Live! performance days at Chichester Cathedral and Christ’s Hospital.
New Nation Rising by Shirley J Thompson
In addition to our Sings Live! programme, WSM is looking for experienced and confident choirs to join West Sussex Youth Choir and West Sussex Youth Orchestra to perform New Nation Rising by Shirley J Thompson on Monday 22 March at Worthing Assembly Hall. Following our successful massed schools performance of The Water Diviner’s Tale last year, if you are interested in taking part, please contact Claire at claire.robins@westsussexmusic.co.uk to find out more.
Music Mark of Recognition 2026-27
Music Mark, the UK Association for Music Education, has a scheme to celebrate and recognise schools’ commitment to music education: the Music Mark of Recognition.
If you had a Music Mark of Recognition last year and would like to renew for this year, or would like to explore this opportunity please email Jane Swindells jane.swindells@westsussexmusic.co.uk
Music Mark members can take advantage of a range of CPD opportunities for music educators https://www.musicmark.org.uk/events/
Indian Music for Schools
One of our Associate Tutors, Kate Hogg, has teamed up with Sanju Sahai, an internationally acclaimed tabla artist, to offer demonstrations and workshops in schools. If you are interested in learning more, please see here https://www.westsussexmusic.co.uk/indian-music-for-schools/
Enrichment activities
Explore opportunities to enrich your curriculum and support your extra-curricular music offer with our Time4Music service level agreement. We can provide specialists to run ensemble activities or lead workshops, and we also hire sets of instruments. Find out more here
Instrumental lessons
If you are looking to develop instrumental and vocal tuition in your school, we are here to help. Contact us on music@westsussexmusic.co.uk
Bursary Fund
We want to ensure that learners from all backgrounds can access opportunities to explore high-quality and inspiring music making. The West Sussex Music Bursary Fund helps support children and young people aged 5-18 years of age, living in West Sussex or attending a West Sussex maintained school with funding towards lessons with a West Sussex visiting music teacher or associate tutor. Parents/carers need to apply to WSM before lessons start to see if funding is available. Further information and application forms are available here
Please share the following opportunities with your families…
Orchestras Inc. SEND music group
Orchestras Inc. is open to all children and young people with additional needs, including those attending special schools, those at mainstream schools or colleges with additional needs and those who are home schooled. No experience necessary and it’s FREE to attend! Please promote this wonderful offer to your families using the flyer attached. Sessions take place on Saturdays: at Horsham Music Centre (19 Sept, 26 Sept, 3 Oct, 10 Oct & 17 Oct and at Worthing Music Centre (7 Nov, 14 Nov, 21 Nov, 28 Nov, & 5 Dec) https://www.westsussexmusic.co.uk/orchestras-inc/
James Underwood
CEO
West Sussex Music