We are proud to announce that our very own Paul Littlewood is the new chair of Doncaster Music Education Hub.

Doncaster Music Education Hub is a collection of partners, and as well as schools, academies and Doncaster Council. The partnership is built up of a varied range of organisations and music providers. This includes: Higher Rhythm, DARTS, Doncaster Music Services, Doncaster Youth Jazz Association, Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust, Doncaster Children’s Trust. Additional national and regional partners include Yorkshire Youth & Music, Opera North, IVE, Charanga, University Centre Doncaster, Cast (Performance Venue), The William Appleby Trust, Music in the Round, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Orchestras Live, Rainbow Connections and Music for Youth.

The music hub’s vision for Doncaster includes a thriving musical offer for all children and young people, with a wealth of exciting performance opportunities, challenging and appropriate progression routes, an inspirational workforce of music leaders across all genres and embedded regional and national partnerships.

Music Education Hubs are groups of organisations – such as local authorities, schools, other hubs, art organisations, community or voluntary organisations – working together to create joined-up music education provision, respond to local need and fulfil the objectives of the Hub as set out in the National Plan for Music Education.

The role of music hubs

All Music Education Hubs must deliver the roles outlined by the National Plan for Music Education, which are funded by Arts Council England:

Core Roles 

1. Ensuring every child between the ages of 5 and 18 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.
2. Providing opportunities to play in ensembles.
3. Ensuring that clear progression routes are available and affordable.
4. Developing a singing strategy so that every child sings regularly.

Extension Roles 

1. Offering CPD to school staff to help deliver the music curriculum.
2. Providing an instrument loan service.
3. Providing access to large-scale and/or high quality experiences including working with professional musicians and publicising musical performances for young people.

Higher Rhythm is genuinely excited about what we can bring to the hub through Paul being in this key position.