Ark Music

We firmly believe in the potential of all children to be musicians. Our aim is to enable our pupils to find, explore and develop their creative voice. We strive to offer every child in our network a joyful and well-rounded music education as performers, creators, discerning listeners and connected members of a creative community.

When I arrived at Ark Walworth, I was a self-taught violinist. I played with flair, but I didn’t know what I could achieve. Through school I had access to free lessons, mentoring and supportive staff who encouraged me to refine my talents.

Leandro Veiga Leandro, a student at Ark Walworth Academy and an Ark Music Scholar, successfully auditioned for the National Youth Choir, the London Youth Choir, the Peckham Chamber Orchestra and the National Youth Folk Ensemble.

We know schools are powerful agents of social change and the best point of access for most children.

Our network-wide programme has three key objectives:

1. Give every child in an Ark school access to high quality music-making opportunities through curriculum and enrichment provision that embrace a breadth of musical traditions and create pathways for progression.
2. Develop a diverse and impactful education workforce, equipping teachers and Artist educators with the pedagogical skills and tools that will enable them to deliver at their best and meet the needs of each learner.
3. Build musical communities within and between schools, in which both pupils and teachers can grow, contribute and succeed.

By ensuring an early entitlement to quality music education, we try to limit the opportunity gap that exists in music. Our disadvantaged students are around five times more likely to progress to Music GCSE than we see for students from similar backgrounds nationally.

Margaret O’Shea Head of Creative and Extended Curriculum

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