Schools & Settings

The Octagon Music Hub supports children and young people to make, learn and progress in music through a wide range of activity in education settings across Somerset and Dorset.

Our funded programmes work with early years settings, primary, middle and secondary schools, SEND schools and PRUs and alternative provision. In schools and other education settings, we fund activities that include:

• learning and progression activity such as whole-class instrumental teaching, group instrumental programmes, individual and small-group instrumental and vocal lessons, and taster sessions. We also support progression routes for pupils who face financial or other barriers to continuing their musical journey.
• we invest in ensembles and group music-making, including school-based ensembles and choirs, inclusive and SEN-focused ensembles, youth and progression groups linked to schools, and residency-style and project-based group music programmes.
• we support performance and shared musical experiences, including school concerts and live performance programmes, singing festivals and large-scale shared events, as well as productions, showcases and celebration events that bring children and schools together through music.

We also work with schools to strengthen music provision through curriculum and school development support, including help with curriculum design, units of work and practical teaching resources.

Teacher development and workforce development is a key part of this work. Activities include CPD for classroom teachers and music leaders, training in singing and instrumental teaching, SEND and inclusion-focused CPD, music technology and creative practice training.

Targeted and inclusive support is a core part of our work. This includes music nurture groups, activity for children in challenging circumstances, enrichment for Looked After Children, ASD base and SEN-specific provision, and family-linked and community-connected school activity.

You can find out more about how we work with other settings, and our Lead Schools initiative through our dedicated pages below.