Summer KS2/3 Transition Music School 2015
To support children eligible for Free School Meals additional funding was made available to provide a range of opportunities. This gave our music team the chance to create and lead their own summer schools targeting their most vulnerable students for an effective and smooth transition from Years 6 to 7.
To support children eligible for Free School Meals additional funding was made available to provide a range of opportunities. This gave our music team the chance to create and lead their own summer schools targeting their most vulnerable students for an effective and smooth transition from Years 6 to 7.
This program was designed to target a specific age group ensuring intervention was made at a crucial stage of education. Running these workshops gave young people the support they required through their difficult transition from primary to secondary school preventing them from falling behind.
With this opportunity being made available Telford & Wrekin Music designed a number of summer school packages that were offered to Head Teachers. The project identified a distinctive and engaging solution as to what provisions could be made available in their community. One of our schools which jumped at the opportunity was Charlton, read their story below:
In August 2015 Charlton School hosted a four-day transition summer music school for eighteen pupils who attended local primaries, including Crudgington, Dothill, St Patricks, Wrekin View, Millbrook. This summer school was designed to give young people the opportunity to learn new skills but also enable them to make new friends in preparation for their move to Secondary school.
The programme was funded through the Department for Education’s Summer Transition School funding aimed at supporting year 6 free school pupils into their new secondary school.
“Summer schools provide an excellent opportunity for secondary schools to help disadvantaged new pupils understand what and how they will be studying in key stage 3. It is also an opportunity for schools to help disadvantaged pupils who are behind in key areas such as literacy and numeracy to catch up with their peers.” (Department for Education’s Summer Schools Programme Guidance Notes, 2015)
An evaluation for the Department for Education’s Summer School Programme can be found online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/255996/Summer_Schools_Research_Report_June_2013_RevisedV2.pdf
“The pupil survey found a number of relationships between school and pupil characteristics and pupils’ attitude scores. Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds (especially those eligible for FSM) had significantly lower levels of confidence, socialisation and school readiness. Attending a Summer School was related to more positive attitudes (for confidence, socialisation and school readiness). Pupils’ views of Summer School were very positive: 90 per cent of pupils were pleased to be invited to a Summer School run by their secondary school. Most pupils who attended a Summer School had fun, made new friends and said they felt more confident about starting secondary school. ” (Department for Education Evaluation Report on the Summer Schools Programme)
As with many projects planning was a critical due to the session aims and the young people skill ranges. This however gave the leaders time to research activities and create their own, these became vital to the session especially when the instruments where being introduced. When identifying pieces to learn extra care was taken due to young people’s ability and range (particularly for vocals). Due to the nature of many of the songs within the charts material relevance became a priority focus, this was important as material had to be age appropriate and suitable for the audience.
Day One
The first day Dean Woolley & Clive Rainbow (Music Leaders) gave the pupils an introduction to the project. Handing out questionnaires for the participants to complete providing information on their previous musical experiences and highlighting a list of songs they wanted to learn. Ascertaining a list of songs was vital as the week would culminate with a concert on Friday afternoon with everyone being encouraged to invite family and friends.
The pupils were introduction to various instruments found in common rock and pop bands. The basic skills/techniques were demonstrated to them along with an introduction to reading notation. The pupils were then given the opportunity to experiment on the various instruments.
Day Two
The young people decided which songs they wanted to learn and with support from the music leaders they began their journey. The larger group was divided into smaller groups and they formed their bands. Separating into rehearsal rooms the young people began learning their song. At the start the young people faced a lot of challenges however their excitement and eagerness to perform on the Friday kept them motivated.
Day Three
We saw a fantastic amount of progress being made; all groups were showing excellent team work and enjoyment as they played together. We saw the young people helping and supporting each other through challenges which was brilliant especially as they did not know each other before the sessions.
Day Four
During the final day, pupils finished off their rehearsals and began planning the concert. They found this activity interesting. It gave them the insight into the set up process of a successful performance.
Even though many of the young people had not played their instrument at the start of the week they young people performed amazingly in front of their family and friends as their newly formed bands.
Excellent feedback was received and several of the pupils stated they would ‘very much like to continue’ with their involvement in music in September.
Parents’ quotes:
“It was a real pleasure to watch her take part & the whole show was a credit to the tutors and children. Thanks again,” (parent)
“I have a feeling Noah made some potential long term friends in that week - he had so much fun, went in a guitarist, came out a drummer and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a lot of teamwork that week which was really good for them...” (Parent)
Several pupils have are now attending the afterschool Rockschool or continuing their development though instrumental lessons at Charlton.
See the video of our work below
Samantha Walker, Musical Inclusions Officer