Musical Bridges featured in Ofsted good practice survey
An Ofsted survey into good practice in music education has praised the impact of partnership work at Humphry Davy School, in Cornwall, with PHF’s Musical Bridges initiative.
The secondary school, and local partner Newlyn Primary School, were commended for using music to ease students’ experience of transition from Year 6 to Year 7. The project was found to help remove musical and social barriers for students and staff, and to build a shared understanding of good music teaching between the schools’ music coordinators.
‘Musical Bridges: Transforming Transition’ is a Special Initiative of PHF’s Education and Learning programme. The initiative began in 2010 and aims to help primary and secondary schools strengthen their students’ experience of school transfer in and through music. It aims to provide a continuous and progressive musical experience that supports students’ personal, social and educational development.
Ofsted stated: ‘Because so many students (and, indeed, their parents and carers) have been involved in ongoing music activities such as the Transition Band and Choir, the transfer progress has been much smoother, and less threatening and worrying. Many Year 6 pupils are remarkably confident and supremely optimistic about joining Humphry Davy in September because they already play a part in the school’s musical life.’
Ofsted reported that Humphry Davy School had made outstanding progress since a subject survey inspection two years ago. The proportion of students choosing to study GCSE music at the school is now three times the national average.
The good practice survey inspection at Humphry Davy School will contribute to Ofsted’s national evaluation, which is shared with the education sector to highlight what works well and promote improvement. The impact of the schools’ work with Musical Bridges will feature in an upcoming Ofsted report ‘Partnerships in music education’ to be published in autumn 2012. The report has been commissioned as part of the government’s National Plan for Music Education.