Award-Winning Singing
Head Teacher Marian Davies asks Baz Chapman, Sing Up Programme Manager, how her Birmingham school can go about achieving the Singing Schools awards
MD - WHAT IS THE SINGING SCHOOLS SCHEME?
BC - It’s an awards system to inspire more singing in schools. There are three levels and you can approach the scheme in different ways to suit your situation.
MD - IS THIS A SCHEME SCHOOLS HAVE TO BID FOR? I MEAN, IS IT COMPETITIVE?
BC - All primary schools can become Singing Schools – this is not a competitive scheme. We want to make it every child’s entitlement to experience singing as part of school life.
MD - A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE NERVOUS ABOUT LEADING SINGING. HOW CAN THE SCHEME HELP THEM?
BC - Sing Up will support teachers with training, professional advice, access to singing leaders, song books, recordings and lots more. We’re going to take away that fear about singing, and show that leading singing is a great way for teachers to improve their skills and confidence.
MD - DO I NEED AN ADVANCED SKILLS MUSIC SPECIALIST?
BC - Not at all. The aim is to give all teachers the confidence to lead singing. People have sung throughout history to celebrate, tell stories, express joy, love and sorrow - very few have been advanced skills teachers! Sing Up can help you unlock the singing leaders in your school, but we’ll also put you in touch with expert leaders in your area, in case you would like some external help.
MD - HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
BC - Visit www.singup.org to register for the first level, which gets your school started on the programme and helps you to define your main goals and objectives. The second level of the award gets you developing a whole school approach to singing, supporting the curriculum, enriching the school community and improving individual pupils’ learning capacity. Level three will be awarded to schools who can demonstrate a full and sustained approach to singing. Some schools have had singing at the heart of their school experience for years; if this describes your school, then once you have registered you can apply for level three.
MD - COULD A VERY SMALL, RURAL SCHOOL COPE?
BC - The scheme is designed to make the most of schools, regardless of size and location. The criteria are flexible enough to enable schools to define their own development needs.
MD - OUR SCHOOL HAS ALREADY GOT AN ARTSMARK; IS IT WORTH DOING THIS AWARD?
BC - Certainly. Artsmark involves a systematic quantitative audit of arts provision in a school across music, drama, dance and art. Gaining an Artsmark shows that a school is committed to the wider development of young people through the arts curriculum. The Singing Schools awards can be complementary to an Artsmark, but can equally be of great value on their own. Incidentally, we are involving Ofsted in our planning for this scheme, so that your activities will be welcomed by inspectors.
MD - IS IT JUST FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS?
BC - Our main focus for Sing Up is on primary schools. Once you’re established as a Singing School, your primary pupils will go on to secondary school already equipped to sing every day, and will hopefully drive up singing activity in secondary schools. Secondary schools may also be a key source of support for developing singing skills in your own school, perhaps through those pupils who have moved on, but come back to your school to work as singing leaders. Similarly, we’re boosting singing activities in early years settings, so that your entry level pupils arrive ready and willing to sing. Connecting to other schools and singing groups of all ages is very much encouraged within the programme, and offers a great way for you to work with partner schools and the wider community.
MD - DO THE AWARDS WORK FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND PUPIL REFERRAL UNITS?
BC - Yes, the goals for each school can be tailored to their special circumstances. The Area Leaders will discuss each one and help to point schools towards relevant resources and ideas which will suit specific needs.
MD - MUST WE HAVE A SCHOOL CHOIR?
BC - Of course we think choirs are great! And a choir or singing group (or several) may be a natural result of getting involved in Sing Up. Choirs can come in many forms – an adult group, a group aiming for performance, a group which appeals especially to boys, a group shared with another school or community group, a cross-generational choir, an ad hoc group for a special occasion. It’s a great way of bringing pupils from across the school (or a number of schools) together, as well as showcasing the talents of your school. If you don’t have a choir and would like to set one up, do get in touch, because we can help. We’ve also found that one of the most inspiring things is when the staff have a choir of their own – a fantastic way of replenishing staffs’ energies and enjoyment.
MD - WE DON’T HAVE ANYONE WHO CAN PLAY AN INSTRUMENT; CAN WE BE A SINGING SCHOOL?
BC - Yes, absolutely. It doesn’t matter if you can’t play an instrument, children can still enjoy singing together without accompaniment. Sing Up will provide many ideas for supporting teachers and the magazine provides backing tracks for all the songs.
MD - WHY SHOULD WE GO FOR THE SINGING SCHOOLS AWARDS?
BC -Because we want you and your community to recognise and celebrate the huge positive impact singing can have on your school. By 2011 we want every primary school in the country to be a registered Singing School. We also really hope schools will have fun taking part!
MD - WHAT IS THE SINGING SCHOOLS SCHEME?
BC - It’s an awards system to inspire more singing in schools. There are three levels and you can approach the scheme in different ways to suit your situation.
MD - IS THIS A SCHEME SCHOOLS HAVE TO BID FOR? I MEAN, IS IT COMPETITIVE?
BC - All primary schools can become Singing Schools – this is not a competitive scheme. We want to make it every child’s entitlement to experience singing as part of school life.
MD - A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE NERVOUS ABOUT LEADING SINGING. HOW CAN THE SCHEME HELP THEM?
BC - Sing Up will support teachers with training, professional advice, access to singing leaders, song books, recordings and lots more. We’re going to take away that fear about singing, and show that leading singing is a great way for teachers to improve their skills and confidence.
MD - DO I NEED AN ADVANCED SKILLS MUSIC SPECIALIST?
BC - Not at all. The aim is to give all teachers the confidence to lead singing. People have sung throughout history to celebrate, tell stories, express joy, love and sorrow - very few have been advanced skills teachers! Sing Up can help you unlock the singing leaders in your school, but we’ll also put you in touch with expert leaders in your area, in case you would like some external help.
MD - HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
BC - Visit www.singup.org to register for the first level, which gets your school started on the programme and helps you to define your main goals and objectives. The second level of the award gets you developing a whole school approach to singing, supporting the curriculum, enriching the school community and improving individual pupils’ learning capacity. Level three will be awarded to schools who can demonstrate a full and sustained approach to singing. Some schools have had singing at the heart of their school experience for years; if this describes your school, then once you have registered you can apply for level three.
MD - COULD A VERY SMALL, RURAL SCHOOL COPE?
BC - The scheme is designed to make the most of schools, regardless of size and location. The criteria are flexible enough to enable schools to define their own development needs.
MD - OUR SCHOOL HAS ALREADY GOT AN ARTSMARK; IS IT WORTH DOING THIS AWARD?
BC - Certainly. Artsmark involves a systematic quantitative audit of arts provision in a school across music, drama, dance and art. Gaining an Artsmark shows that a school is committed to the wider development of young people through the arts curriculum. The Singing Schools awards can be complementary to an Artsmark, but can equally be of great value on their own. Incidentally, we are involving Ofsted in our planning for this scheme, so that your activities will be welcomed by inspectors.
MD - IS IT JUST FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS?
BC - Our main focus for Sing Up is on primary schools. Once you’re established as a Singing School, your primary pupils will go on to secondary school already equipped to sing every day, and will hopefully drive up singing activity in secondary schools. Secondary schools may also be a key source of support for developing singing skills in your own school, perhaps through those pupils who have moved on, but come back to your school to work as singing leaders. Similarly, we’re boosting singing activities in early years settings, so that your entry level pupils arrive ready and willing to sing. Connecting to other schools and singing groups of all ages is very much encouraged within the programme, and offers a great way for you to work with partner schools and the wider community.
MD - DO THE AWARDS WORK FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND PUPIL REFERRAL UNITS?
BC - Yes, the goals for each school can be tailored to their special circumstances. The Area Leaders will discuss each one and help to point schools towards relevant resources and ideas which will suit specific needs.
MD - MUST WE HAVE A SCHOOL CHOIR?
BC - Of course we think choirs are great! And a choir or singing group (or several) may be a natural result of getting involved in Sing Up. Choirs can come in many forms – an adult group, a group aiming for performance, a group which appeals especially to boys, a group shared with another school or community group, a cross-generational choir, an ad hoc group for a special occasion. It’s a great way of bringing pupils from across the school (or a number of schools) together, as well as showcasing the talents of your school. If you don’t have a choir and would like to set one up, do get in touch, because we can help. We’ve also found that one of the most inspiring things is when the staff have a choir of their own – a fantastic way of replenishing staffs’ energies and enjoyment.
MD - WE DON’T HAVE ANYONE WHO CAN PLAY AN INSTRUMENT; CAN WE BE A SINGING SCHOOL?
BC - Yes, absolutely. It doesn’t matter if you can’t play an instrument, children can still enjoy singing together without accompaniment. Sing Up will provide many ideas for supporting teachers and the magazine provides backing tracks for all the songs.
MD - WHY SHOULD WE GO FOR THE SINGING SCHOOLS AWARDS?
BC -Because we want you and your community to recognise and celebrate the huge positive impact singing can have on your school. By 2011 we want every primary school in the country to be a registered Singing School. We also really hope schools will have fun taking part!
