Music breathes life into schools. It brings joy, sparks creativity, and builds community. Over the past decade, I’ve witnessed how Sussex’s school music services have blossomed into a vibrant, inclusive force. Whether it’s a lively choir, a bustling orchestra, or one-to-one instrumental lessons, the impact is profound. Let’s dive into the heart of Sussex’s school music support and discover how it nurtures young talent and enriches school life. The Importance of School Music S

With school budgets under sustained pressure, headteachers are rightly focused on maximising impact from every investment. In that context, music can sometimes be viewed as expendable. Yet the evidence suggests the opposite: when delivered well, music education contributes directly to improved outcomes across the curriculum (Hallam & Rogers, 2016; Arts Education Partnership, 2011). [files.eric.ed.gov] What the Evidence Shows A growing body of research highlights a consistent

We are delighted to announce that our amazing teacher, Robbie, has been nominated by pupils at St Andrews CofE Primary School in Hove for the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Awards 2026! The children worked so hard to write heartfelt letters of praise for Robbie, who teaches Year 5 and 6 Curriculum Music. Click here to read what the children said about Mr. Mitchell. Robbie's Impact on Music Education Robbie also runs the Samba Band, which recently performed at the Childr

We are delighted to be offering free HAF places at our Musical Theatre summer school in Eastbourne this year. Sussex Music School will deliver a fun and creative musical theatre programme led by an outstanding Musical Director. Children and young people will take part in musical games and learn a range of musical theatre songs in an enjoyable and supportive environment, culminating in a performance on the final day for parents and carers. Location: Heron Park Primary Academy

Music can shape the feel of a school day in powerful ways, bringing energy, focus, creativity, and connection. When it becomes a regular part of school life rather than an occasional extra, children have enhanced opportunities to take part, build confidence, and discover different ways of expressing themselves. Music as a Regular, Timetabled Experience One of the key factors in building a strong musical culture in schools is consistency. Music is most effective when it is p

Huge congratulations to Sam’s Drumkit Student, who recently took part in the Seaford Young Musician Competition and won the title of Best Emerging Musician! This amazing community event, by the Seaford Rotary Club, took place last weekend and offered local musicians a chance to play for an audience of friends and family. Rightly proud Mum, Lucy says “He absolutely smashed it did amazing, he even came away with a £20 prize for best emerging musician, as you can imagine he i

If you’re looking for a fun, creative, and rewarding way to keep your child engaged this summer, we can highly recommend Summer Music Sessions which offers a truly unique experience for children in Brighton and Hove and is co run and led by one of our amazing teachers Nicola. Nicola has kindly offered an £10.00 SMS sign up discount (add SMS after your child's name ) Designed for young musicians , these hands-on courses blend performance, composition, and imagination—helping

We are so delighted to report that this year's Gamelan Project at Varndean school is now fully booked!! This means we can deliver this fantastic experience across two weeks in July to over 250 Sussex school children, and 30 teachers from 16 local schools! They will not only learn on the day but be supplied with pre and post workshop resources to take back to schools and share with others. Not only is this event completely free but we are also able to contribute to transport

Applications are now open at our Partner Schools in Sussex, for children to sign up for instrumental lessons in school time. Here we look at the many advantages of in school (and out of school) music lessons and why they are such a valuable investment for parents and, for schools, an important means of making music accessible to all children. Why SMS? With SMS music lessons are tailored to the individual’s pace, interests, and goals. This approach is especially effective b

Last week our Senior Leaders and Workshop team met in Eastbourne to begin the exciting process of planning two weeks of Musical Theatre workshops at Cradle Hill Primary School and Heron Park Primary Academy during July and August. Meet the team for each school below (from left to right Sam, Emma, Gavin, Zoe and Beth): Gavin - Workshop Leader - Singing, Choreography and Drama - Cradle Hill and Heron Park As well as being a full-time music teacher, Gavin also provides musica

We pride ourselves on employing on the best teachers and so we are delighted to be welcoming Nicola and Ann to the team. These amazing instrumentalist and teachers will be working in Partner Schools in Brighton and Hove, Crawley and across Sussex to bring their unique, engaging and effective teaching styles to children from years 1 to year 10. NICOLA QTS, PGCE , BA Hons, Violin Gr 8, Singing Gr 8 Instrumental Teacher - Piano, Singing and Violin Brighton and Hove and Surrou

In today’s educational landscape, where budgets are tight and accountability is high, it can be tempting to view music provision as flexible—something that can be delivered by any capable instrumentalist or enthusiastic generalist. However, the quality of music education provided to children has a profound and lasting impact, and it is worth considering carefully who stands at the front of that classroom, or in that practice room. Not all music teachers are created equal.

Affordable, high‑impact workshops that enrich learning, wellbeing and cultural capital in schools across Sussex. As schools plan ahead for 2026 and beyond, high‑quality, budget friendly enrichment opportunities which are open to as many pupils are possible, remain a powerful way to raise engagement, strengthen wellbeing and bring learning to life across the curriculum. At Sussex Music School (SMS), our in‑school workshops are designed to do exactly that: deliver memorable, in

Even at this time and in the midst of a busy exam season, if you’re involved in School Leadership, you will no doubt be planning ahead to next year and might be wondering how to bring the benefits of Sussex Music School to your school within the context of budgetary restraints. Here are some recommendations to have in mind for the longer term: Start with a music audit: Assess your current music provision and identify gaps or opportunities. Send all teaching staff primar

We are absolutely delighted to announce that Sussex Music School has been awarded National Lottery Arts Council funding to deliver an inspiring Gamelan project for schools this July 2026! The event takes place at Varndean School and is open to all schools in Sussex for children from years 5-10. We can fully fund these sessions now and even offer a contribution of £80.00 for transport (paid directly to the provider). If you are already an SMS Partner or THRIVE School and

Music has a magical way of bringing people together, sparking creativity, and enriching lives. When it comes to nurturing young talent and fostering a love for music, few places do it better than Sussex Music School. Over the past 12 years, SMS has transformed the musical landscape in schools across Sussex, working closely with partners in Primary and Secondary settings to build a culture of musical excellence across all instruments, from within. Let's take a look at Sussex

We are proud to be supporting 3 pupils in receipt of pupil premium to take clarinet lessons at City Academy Whitehawk, one or our long standing Partner Schools. When the school told us that they had pupils on who would benefit from learning an instrument with us but there was not enough money to fund them, we supplied 3 loaned clarinets to the school and children share lesson each week. Multi-instrumentalist Charlotte leads the weekly sessions and children are making amazing

Today I'd like to explore how Sussex Music School can help build a thriving musical community from within. Today I'd like to explore how Sussex Music School can help build a thriving musical community from within. If you’re looking to enrich your school’s culture with music, you’re in the right place! Music is a magical thread that weaves through the fabric of school life, bringing joy, creativity, and a sense of community to every corner of the classroom.

We are currently inviting schools to register interest in our project, for which we are applying for Arts Council funding. Sessions are 1.5 hours and there is a maximum number of 16 students per session. (Please note if we are unable to secure funding, there will be a fee of up to £150 per school. Schools have the option to opt out at this point)

Our latest newsletter is now available and has been sent out to Primary Schools across Sussex. If you would like to be added to our...