Volunteer Chair of the Telford & Wrekin Music Education Hub Strategy Group
Job description
Our Hub has an ambitious vision. It aims to be an innovative and enterprising body with a vision to inspire and lead all children and young people towards exciting, rewarding, varied high quality and progressive musical experiences, individually and with others, that embrace and celebrate the broad and diverse cultures of the Borough.
Working with other local Music Education Hubs we are exploring the possibility of developing cross authority referral pathways for young people where provision is currently not on offer in one area but may be in another local area through a federated music education across Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent and Telford and our shared Musical Inclusion Strategy across the four local authorities.1 We are also developing our response to the Arts Council’s Cultural Education Challenge and the creation of Cultural Education Partnerships.
We are the lead partner in our In Harmony programme funded by Arts Council England and the Department for Education working across Telford & Stoke on Trent on our El Sistema inspired programme and also our Youth Music funded partnership programme Musical Communities working across Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Shropshire and Telford supporting young people in challenging circumstances.
The Chair will help support the strategy group and support the development of the scrutiny and oversight role, steering, challenging and focusing members to deliver strong and effective outcomes and decisions
The Chair will be jointly responsible for setting the Strategy Board’s agenda together with the Music Education Hub lead person from Telford & Wrekin Council and ensuring that adequate time is available for discussion of all agenda items, in particular strategic issues.
The Chair should also promote a culture of openness and debate by facilitating the effective contribution of all Strategy Group representatives and ensuring constructive relations between the lead organisation, partner organisations and schools.
The Chair role will include:
- Attend meetings once a term (held at The Place in Oakengates, Telford, TF2 6EP)
- Attend occasional additional meetings, performances, events or conferences such as the Telford & Wrekin Music Showcase.
- Deal with occasional email and phone communications in-between meetings with the Music Education Hub lead person at Telford & Wrekin Council.
- To act as a critical friend, advising and challenging the Hub lead organisation (Telford & Wrekin Council) and partners where necessary and appropriate.
- Support the development of the Telford & Wrekin Music Education Hub and the Telford & Wrekin Cultural Education Partnership.
- Representing/Attending additional key meetings with Arts Council England as appropriate.
This role is voluntary but will include travel expenses. This role would initially be for a period of two-years, and the first meeting will be either towards the end of June or end of September 2016
Person specification
- A knowledge of and passion for music education and cultural education more broadly.
- Knowledge and understanding of both Henley Reviews and National Plan for Music Education (2011)
- A desire to improve outcomes for the young people of Telford & Wrekin and to contribute to the development of a diverse, quality music and cultural education offer across the Borough.
- An awareness of the school environment and opportunities and challenges within education generally.
- An ability to manage discussions objectively, fairly and calmly whilst also being unafraid to challenge when necessary.
- An ability to ensure equal participation and representation from all Strategy Group members.
- An ability to tackle issues constructively and positively.
- Existing experience as an effective Board member or Trustee.
- Good, independent judgement and the ability to think creatively in the context of the organisation and a rapidly changing external environment
- Experience of an existing effective Chairmanship is preferable.
If of interest…
Please email a CV and a paragraph explaining why the role is of interest and why you would be suitable to ian.thomas@telford.gov.uk
Please also get in touch if you have any queries about the role.
Deadline: Wednesday 6th April 2016 5pm
.