About the Voices Foundation

Our mission
To enable all children to realise their full potential through a singing-based music curriculum, and to influence national perception of the vital importance of music in education
 
What we do
We are a music education charity working closely with the Government, Local Authorities and Schools to deliver sustainable solutions to teaching music at a Primary level.
 
We offer In School Programmes, professional development training for both classroom teachers and specialists, and provide expert resource material.
 
Our work with the Department for Education (formerly the DCSF)
Over the years, The Voices Foundation has helped to influence leaders in the field of music education as well as government, to make singing a vital part of every child’s entitlement. Susan Digby has served on the Government’s Music Manifesto working group and also supported Marc Jaffrey (Music Manifesto Champion) in developing the current emphasis on singing in schools. The Voices Foundation has also been involved in the KS3 working group which has resulted in a current nationwide programme of support being delivered to music services. In 2004/5 the DfES (now the DfE) provided The Voices Foundation with a major grant which funded a Primer Project in 16 new schools in Southwark, Bolton and North Devon.

 

In 2007, we were chosen to deliver a DCSF Children's Centres pilot project, running over 3 years, which involves training Early Years practitioners in our methodology and approach, and selecting suitable trainees to instruct and support colleagues in other EY settings within the piloting Local Authorities. This sustainable, "ripple-effect " approach echoes the ethos behind our in-school programmes.


Our work within Sing Up, the Music Manifesto's National Singing Programme
Since its launch in November 2007, we have had a close association with Sing Up, the Government-funded initiative which aims to put singing back into the heart of primary schools. From November 2007 to March 2008, we delivered Singing Steps, our newly devised short workshop programme, in 50 primary schools across England.


In August 2008 we were appointed one of Sing Up's 5 Flagship organisations for 2008-10, to help represent, develop and disseminate best practice in singing with primary aged children.

 

Accreditation by Edge Hill University
In early 2010 we agreed an accreditation partnership with Edge Hill University's Faculty of Education, whereby two of our training strands offer further professional development opportunities with the University:

 

These are both routes into further study for an Edge Hill award, and those claiming credits through Voices Foundation training will be eligible to obtain up to 60 credits in total at no extra cost.  Further information on this accreditation scheme can be downloaded here (PDF).


I have no doubt that the work of The Voices Foundation is contributing greatly to the delivery of arts education in those schools that take part in the programme
Tansy Jones, Artsmark Officer, Arts Council England