South Coast Music Partnership Announces New Lead Schools and Launches Network of Excellence

The South Coast Music Partnership (SCMP) is delighted to announce the appointment of new Lead Schools in each of its four component areas.

Across England, the 43 music hubs nationally will be appointing lead schools, forming a new national network of music excellence in schools.  

The appointments follow a comprehensive application and school visit process, during which the SCMP Leadership Team was hugely inspired and impressed by the breadth, diversity, and quality of music-making as well as the enthusiasm from pupils and the support from staff and senior leaders.

The appointed lead schools are as follows:

  • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP): Baden-Powell & St Peter Junior, Longfleet CE Primary (joint leads - primary); The Bourne Academy and Twynham School (joint leads - secondary) and Linwood School (special)

  • Isle of Wight: Lionheart School (special/AP) and Carisbrooke College (secondary)

  • Portsmouth: Redwood Park Academy, (special) St Paul’s Catholic Primary and St Edmund’s Catholic School (secondary)

  • Southampton: Kanes Hill Primary and Mount Pleasant Junior (joint leads - primary); Redbridge Community School and Upper Shirley High School (joint leads - secondary) and Great Oaks School (special).

The Lead Schools will take an active role in mentoring and supporting schools, working together with the music hub to shape, support and strengthen a regional programme of high-quality music education.

The exceptional strength and commitment to music education evident throughout the region led to the decision to establish a wider Network of Excellence, which will bring together the appointed Lead Schools and other outstanding schools with particular specialisms, across the partnership.

SCMP extends sincere thanks to all schools that submitted applications and welcomed Leadership Team visits. The process highlighted the remarkable energy, creativity, and dedication of music educators across the South Coast.