FAQs:

A: All schools working towards an Award from April 2012 onwards must be Sing Up members. This means that schools must complete their Award whilst they are members, or renew their subscription if they have not finished. There will be three deadlines each year (one per term) for submitting your Award for endorsement. If you are struggling to complete your Award by the deadline, you can always contact the Awards team who will be happy to help you.

A: We are hoping that all our wonderful Award schools will take up membership, but if your school is unable to become a member then the value of your national Sing Up Award will not change. However, we’re aware of the need to sustain the singing activity in Award schools so we will be looking into a revalidation process in the near future. If you have any suggestions about this then we’d love to hear your thoughts – please contact us.

A: If you submit your Award for endorsement by the next deadline, 24 February, the Awards team will look to endorse your Award by the end of March 2012.

A: You can register interest in the new Awards framework by contacting us. In return, at the beginning of April 2012 we will send you all the materials about the new process so that you can start your journey in the summer term. You will then be able to upload your evidence using the updated Awards tool from September 2012.

To find out more about the new Awards framework please see FAQ ‘Can you tell me about the new Awards?’ 

A: We’re excited to announce that in April 2012 we will be launching a new Sing Up Awards Framework. Following feedback from those who have completed the original Award scheme, they have been reviewed to make them accessible to all primary settings, showing clearer progression as well as integrating the Principles of Good Quality Vocal Leadership.

You can take advantage of our new and improved Sing Up Awards Framework by registering your interest.

A: We plan to create forums where you can discuss and share good practice. In the meantime do keep in touch with us through Facebook and Twitter. In addition to this, why not join our Schools Panel, so you can help shape and inform the way the way Sing Up develops? We’re always interested in hearing how we can meet your needs. To find out more, please email magazine@singup.org.

A: The Government now requires local musical provision to be delivered through Music Education Hubs, which stretch beyond school boundaries, drawing on the expertise of a range of specialists and agencies who can sew together a dynamic and rewarding music education for all children of all backgrounds. Sing Up has always had partnership working at its centre, and we have already forged strong relationships with many of the main agencies who will make up the Hubs. We can help schools to work in partnership with others by providing a ready-made framework.  

On top of this, our extensive Accessible Learning work has resulted in us being leaders in engaging ‘hard to reach’ groups, including those with physical and communication barriers, those ‘at risk’, looked after children and children with severe learning difficulties. We’ve supported leaders and teachers to overcome barriers to learning, which is a key requirement of Ofsted.

We have also proved, through research commissioned from the Institute of Education, that singing can play a key role in children’s development, boost their self-esteem, and significantly raise their singing ability. Our song materials assist learning across the curriculum – and we’ve heard teachers echo this time and again. 

A: Those of you who have been following the Government’s comments on Sing Up – first through Darren Henley’s Review of Music Education, and later in the National Music Plan – will know how highly Sing Up is valued and that our work continues to be recognised as important.

The National Music Plan acknowledged that: Sing Up has shown what can be done to raise the status of singing and increase opportunities for school children throughout the country to enjoy singing as part of their everyday lives. In the spirit of partnership working, hubs may wish to draw on expertise from organisations such as Sing Up… to develop and deliver their singing strategies. This shows that the government recognises that Sing Up continues to offer a valuable programme of activity that answers many of the overarching singing, musical and partnership aims that schools, headteachers, music providers and local authorities need to meet.

The National Music Plan underlines the importance of access to music for all children. Sing Up provides the resources and means for schools to not only give all children access to music and singing but also supports the development of users’ skills, helping them to become confident and able to lead quality singing in schools, through our Principles of Good Quality Vocal Leadership.

A: The Sing Up Song Bank will continue to expand as we seek out new songs and commission more original material. Our partnership with Faber Music ensures we are always at the cutting edge of finding and developing great new songs for use in schools and other melodious settings! 

A: Sing Up Local will be our new network of singing leaders, music organisations and professionals who will be running a range of Sing Up Local Training Events across the whole of England exclusively for Sing Up members.  Many of those involved in this network will be familiar to previous participants of Sing Up training. Many will also be represented in your local Music Education Hubs.

Our Sing Up Local Training Events are professional development sessions offering participants the opportunity to experience a high-quality practical training session as well as organised and facilitated time to network with peers, troubleshoot singing issues with experts, discuss and develop singing strategies for their schools and region, and explore the potential of Sing Up Awards.

Membership provides each member school with two opportunities to engage with Sing Up Local Training Events run by the Sing Up Local Provider for their geographical region, as well as the option to buy further training places as desired. The first Sing Up Local Training Events will start from September 2012.

Information about all providers that are part of Sing Up Local, and details of all their training opportunities will be available through the Training Area of the website.

In addition to the Sing Up Local Training Events run by Sing Up Providers, there will also be a range of video tutorials and support materials available on the website for members, including access to interactive training webinars – initially focussing on the Principles of Good Quality Vocal Leadership.