PRESS RELEASE – GSW Music Hub Announces New Lead Schools for Music Education Excellence Across the Region

GSW Music Hub Announces New Lead Schools for Music Education Excellence Across the Region

20^th March 2025 – Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire

The Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire (GSW) Music Hub is proud to announce the appointment of seven outstanding schools as Lead Schools for music education across the region. These institutions will play a pivotal role in elevating music education standards, providing specialised professional development, and championing music-making throughout our communities.

Regional Lead Schools

Gloucestershire

• Primary: Powell’s C of E Primary School
• Secondary: The Crypt School

Swindon

• Primary: Lethbridge Primary School
• Secondary: The Dorcan Academy

Wiltshire

• Primary: Grove Primary School
• Secondary: Royal Wootton Bassett Academy
• Special Education: Silverwood School (serving the entire GSW region)

The carefully selected Lead Schools will serve as centres of excellence for music education, fostering collaboration between schools and sharing best practices across the region.

Enhancing Music Education Through Specialised Leadership

Each Lead School will contribute to transforming music education by:

• Providing specialist Continuing Professional Development (CPD) across key focus areas including Composition/Improvisation, Assessment, Notation, Inclusive Music Making, Singing in Parts, and Extra-Curricular music activities/events
• Conducting support visits to schools throughout the region
• Championing music education at all levels
• Identifying and addressing local needs
• Providing dynamic leadership and strategic direction to improve music-making quality across GSW Music Hub schools
• Embedding strong practice and supporting effective professional development for teachers

“This initiative directly responds to the Department for Education’s directive for Music Hubs to ‘support stronger links between local schools and academy trusts, and broker opportunities for peer-to-peer learning,'” said Lisa Mayo on behalf of the Consortium Executive Team for GSW Music Hub. “Our Lead Schools will integrate schools within the Music Hub framework as both customers and co-creators/delivery partners, creating a more collaborative and effective music education ecosystem.”

Contact Information

For more information, please contact:

Lynn Hawkins Lhawkins@smscio.co.uk

Deputy Head of Service (Swindon)