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Fully Subsidised School Music Curriculum Support

Raising curriculum quality, consistency and Ofsted confidence

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School impact at a glance

  • Strengthens curriculum intent, implementation and impact.
  • Builds staff confidence and consistency.
  • Aligns music with wider school priorities.

Overview

A high‑quality music curriculum does not exist in isolation. Its impact is strongest when classroom teaching, instrumental and vocal tuition, ensembles, enrichment and SEND provision are coherently planned, well‑sequenced and consistently delivered.

Hertfordshire Music Service supports schools to connect all strands of their music offer into a clear, inclusive and sustainable whole. Our curriculum support ensures that music provision across lessons, choirs, instrumental pathways, clubs and therapeutic services works together to strengthen foundational learning skills, executive functioning and musical progression for every pupil.

This support is central to strengthening Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) and ensuring music contributes meaningfully to behaviour, learning readiness, inclusion and school culture.

HMS curriculum support enables schools to:

  • Embed executive‑function‑rich routines (attention, working memory, inhibition and regulation) across classroom music, instrumental lessons, choirs, groups and SEND provision
  • Ensure curriculum intent, implementation and impact align with Ofsted’s focus on strong foundations
  • Build staff confidence in sequencing learning over time, from first access through to progression pathways
  • Strengthen consistency of practice across classes, tutors and ensemble leaders
  • Align music learning with literacy, language, behaviour and readiness‑to‑learn priorities
  • Ensure inclusive strategies are embedded across universal, targeted and specialist provision.

What we offer

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Building a high-quality music education toolkit

Our Building a High Quality Music Education Toolkit offers a clear step-by-step structure to support schools in planning, delivering and sustaining a strong curriculum.

It includes:

  • Practical and adaptable teaching resources.
  • Clear progression guidance across phases.
  • Support for consistent teaching and assessment.
  • Tools for evaluation and subject leadership.

Access the toolkit: HMS-Building a high quality music education

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Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

In partnership with our Lead Schools, HfL, Alban Teaching School Hub and Primary Music Matters HMS offers high‑quality CPD for:

  • Classroom teachers
  • Music subject leaders
  • Senior leaders
  • Instrumental and ensemble leads

CPD supports schools to embed consistent practice across curriculum, instrumental pathways, choirs, clubs and inclusive provision.

View the current CPD programme: School CPD

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Networking opportunities

Our countywide networks support professional dialogue, shared practice and sector‑wide collaboration across all types of music provision.

Register your interest:

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Lead Schools for Music

Schools can access guidance and peer support from Hertfordshire’s Lead Schools for Music.

Through the Lead School Contact Form, schools can:

  • Submit a query
  • Arrange an online or face‑to‑face meeting
  • Schedule a phone call
  • Organise a school visit

Lead School Contact Form – Fill in

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School visits

Schools may request a tailored visit from HMS to support the development of their music provision.

Visits can include:

  • Lesson observations
  • Curriculum and progression review
  • Strategic planning support
  • Leadership discussions

Request a School Visit – Fill in form

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School music review

To support schools in writing and/or reviewing their School Music Development Plan (SMDP), HMS offers a structured Music Provision Audit aligned with the NPME and Ofsted EIF.

The Audit Process includes

1.  Self‑Evaluation Survey covering:

  • Curriculum intent, implementation and impact
  • Inclusion and SEND
  • Progression and assessment
  • Enrichment and wider musical culture
  • Leadership, staffing and CPD

music-development-school-statements-ey-primary.xlsx

music-development-school-statements-secondary.xlsx

2.  Audit Summary Report

  • Clear strengths and priorities
  • Practical recommendations
  • Direct links to next steps

3.  Integration into the SMDP Audit findings feed directly into your SMDP, ensuring planning is robust, evidence‑based and meaningful.

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Music Mark Recognition

HMS can carry out a structured review of your school’s music provision, supporting evaluation and identifying next steps. Following this process, HMS may recommend your school to Music Mark.

Schools engaging in the HMS self‑evaluation process may be recommended for the national Music Mark Recognition Award for dedication and improvement.

This award provides:

  • A certificate and logo for your school
  • Access to Music Mark resources
  • Sector updates and training

School Music Review and Music Mark Recognition Award

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School Music Development Planning (SMDP)

Developing a clear, ambitious and inclusive music offer is central to the National Plan for Music Education (NPME) and supports Ofsted expectations around curriculum intent, implementation and impact.

A School Music Development Plan (SMDP) enables schools to set out a strategic, evidence‑informed approach to strengthening music provision across curriculum, enrichment and leadership.

Hertfordshire Music Service provides structured support to help schools create, review and sustain a high‑quality SMDP aligned with national guidance.

What is an SMDP?

A School Music Development Plan helps schools to:

  • Clarify their vision and ambition for music
  • Ensure curriculum coherence, progression and inclusivity
  • Evaluate current provision and identify priorities
  • Strengthen staffing, CPD and leadership
  • Enhance enrichment, performance opportunities and pupil engagement
  • Embed long‑term improvement across the whole school

Schools can download and use the DfE SMDP Summary Template here: School_music_development_plan_summary_template.docx

How HMS supports schools

Support may include:

  • Curriculum design and mapping
  • Leadership guidance and strategic planning
  • Evaluation of current provision
  • Practical CPD for staff
  • Support through Lead Schools for Music
  • Access to networks and sector guidance

All support is tailored to your school’s needs, phase and context.

Why an SMDP Matters

A well‑designed SMDP helps schools:

  • Establish a clear and ambitious vision for music
  • Strengthen teaching and learning
  • Embed inclusive practices for pupils with SEND
  • Improve consistency and teacher confidence
  • Increase pupil engagement and participation
  • Demonstrate a coherent, strategic approach to Ofsted
  • Align provision with national expectations.

How to access SMDP support

Schools can request support through their Regional Manager or via the HMS online booking routes. Support can be initiated at any point during the school year.

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Additional traded services

Bespoke curriculum support

Primary Music Matters Consultancy (Partner offer)

Fee: £200.00 (2-hour bespoke visit)

This flexible consultancy offer provides:

  • In‑class support
  • CPD for teachers
  • Curriculum mapping and sequencing
  • Progression guidance
  • Follow‑up evaluation

Delivered by experienced educators, this support helps schools embed a high‑quality music curriculum aligned with NPME expectations and connected to instrumental, vocal, ensemble and SEND pathways.

Request a School Visit – Fill in form