‘Building a Successful Music Department - Musical Futures’ offers the opportunity to explore strategies for values-based leadership based on keeping practical engagement with the arts at the heart of what we do in school.

The challenges facing subject leaders will be considered, and practical responses offered to issues such as working with senior leaders, curriculum design, Ofsted preparation, managing change, assessment, and funding.

The current Ofsted framework, with its emphasis on a broad and balanced curriculum, is returning some bargaining power to subject leaders fighting their corner for music and the arts. Many schools are returning to a 3-year Key Stage 3, and it is crucial for subject leaders to have great plans in place for a curriculum which is based on sound educational principles that keeps practical experience of the arts at its heart. Being able to plan for this, and articulate the rationale behind the plans to senior leaders and inspectors, is more important now than it ever has been.

This course will offer subject leaders the chance to consider a range of strategies for formulating, communicating, and delivering a music/arts curriculum, preparing for Ofsted, and keeping music and the arts not just afloat, but thriving, within their schools.

Building a Successful Music Department – Musical Futures