The pioneering college, which offers BA (Hons) degree and master’s courses for today’s musicians, artists and industry professionals, has seen a noteworthy year-on-year uplift of 64% (January 2023 – January 2024), following the UCAS equal opportunities deadline. Students applying for a coveted place at the college, who are keen to embrace WaterBear’s unique ethos of building a sustainable career in the music industry, will have the option to study at one of the college’s two campuses or online.

This year’s record number of applications further bolsters WaterBear’s significant success since establishing in Brighton in September 2018 and opening the doors to its second college in Sheffield in September 2023. WaterBear also reports a monumental surge of 236% in undergraduate student applications in the last two years (since January 2022).

Eve Massaad, Director of Marketing at WaterBear commented: “WaterBear has experienced an extraordinary expansion in recent years, a testament to our highly dedicated and passionate team of industry professionals. Our student-centred approach and student experience is a key factor to our success. From day one, our vision has been firmly focused on offering support to the DIY artist and enabling young musicians to take control of their career, fostering independence and resilience.

“The vast increase in applications received again this year is hugely encouraging, giving us confidence that we are creating an offering that students want, ultimately nurturing them to be professional, independent and adaptable creative thinkers in an ever-changing industry.”

Founded by music education pioneers Adam Bushell and Bruce John Dickinson (pictured left), WaterBear has built an unrivalled reputation for its dedication to specialist one-to-one mentoring, focused class sizes and exclusive career development opportunities.

WaterBear offers BA (Hons) degree and master’s courses made for today’s musicians, artists and industry professionals. Its colleges are based in the heart of Brighton and Sheffield, two amazing UK cities with incredible musical roots and heritage. The college also has a range of online distance-learning courses.

WaterBear is a College of Falmouth University, a pioneer in creative industries education, entrepreneurship and innovation. Run by musicians, for musicians WaterBear is about smaller class sizes, flexible course delivery, bespoke one-to-one mentoring and exclusive work experience and career development opportunities.

https://waterbear.org.uk/

Wrekin College’s Jazz Band and Concert Band are already in rehearsals to try and clinch yet another prestigious platinum award at the National Concert Band Festival.

The Jazz Band already has a hat-trick of the gongs while the school’s Concert Band who entered the festival for the first time in 2021/2 picked up its own first platinum award last year – the highest honour bestowed at the event which attracts some of the best bands from across the UK.

Both ensembles will take to the stage later this term in the Oldham regional festival to try to qualify for the National finals which will give them the chance to add their fourth and second platinum awards to their accolades at next year’s final.

Director of Music at Wrekin, Mr. Simon Platford, said he felt very privileged to work with young musicians many of whom had just started out on their journey playing with ensembles and bands at the school.

“The numerous skills needed to be a part of a band are so varied and are not solely musical skills either. Teamwork, reliability, and commitment are just as important as having instrumental skills. However, playing in a band can significantly boost a young person’s confidence and this raise in self-esteem, I fundamentally believe leads to more success across the board.”

He added that it was a reminder of why more support was needed for music in schools nationally and more commitment to boosting GCSE and A-Level music numbers which Wrekin is championing.

“Research has shown that learning to play a musical instrument can enhance verbal memory, spatial reasoning, and literacy skills. Playing an instrument makes you use both sides of your brain, which strengthens memory power. It is beneficial to all children but we also need to ensure there is a pathway for our very talented and committed musicians to gain qualifications which could help them make more of the extensive opportunities in music.”

In a year that was officially recognised as having the lowest number of students taking GCSE Music since it began in 1987, Wrekin had a record percentage of last year’s year 11 studying it, with over 20% (twice the percentage deemed as an outstanding take up) taking GCSE music.

“This record take-up should see the school qualify for the ISM gold award for music GCSE provision. We have received bronze and silver in the past. All of our musicians passed, with 50% getting 8s or 9’s,” added Mr. Platford.

The Incorporated Society of Musicians Award (ISM) is only awarded to the top 200 schools nationally that study GCSE Music with gold reserved for the top 30.

Mr. Platford said performing in music and drama had been a tremendous challenge during the pandemic but it reminded people how much it was valued as an integral part of society.

The school this year encouraged many of the up-and-coming stars in British music with a series of concerts featuring the brightest talents on the classical music scene.

The Sounds of the Future calendar of concerts proved a massive hit with Shropshire audiences and young musicians who were inspired by the performances.

More such concerts are in the pipeline for the future and Mr. Platford confirmed Sheku Kanneh-Mason, globally successful cellist and winner of two Classical Brit Awards, will play at the school next year in what will no doubt be a sell-out show.

Park Lane Primary School and Nursery in Nuneaton and Race Leys Junior School, and Nicholas Chamberlaine School in Bedworth are taking part in the festival, amongst other schools in the Trust.

The arts festival programme encourages children to develop and express their creativity. Pupils will participate in projects, workshops, and collaborations during the next two weeks, including song, dance, acting, poetry, painting, and monologues.

All 12 schools within the Griffin Schools Trust will participate in the festival and will be celebrating the theme of ‘change makers’, people who take creative action to improve a situation, highlighting those motivated to act and think beyond their own experiences for the greater good.

The likes of Amanda Gorman, The Beatles, and Courtney Matheson are to be celebrated for artistic impact on the world, with new additions, including Marcus Rashford and Greta Thunberg, for their use of communication and speech to make change happen.

Anne Powell, Chief Executive of Griffin Schools Trust, comments: “The festival is a proud tradition of the Griffin Schools Trust, which aims to create high achievement for all its children. The next two weeks will both celebrate their achievements and widen their horizons through art and discovering change makers to look up to.”

As part of the festival, Year 5 pupils entered a competition responding to the theme of change makers. Ten winners from each school have been selected to attend four days of arts-soaked activity, including a Macbeth performance by Oddsocks and a Night of the Proms performance by Ratby Band.

Kim Waldock, Director of Arts for Griffin Arts Festival, and former Head of National Programmes at the Royal Opera House, adds: “It’s important to help children consider the arts beyond simply the skill of painting or singing and to consider the wider impact the arts have on vocation. Through the Griffin Arts Festival, we can stimulate broader thinking and get children excited about what is possible through the arts.”

At the end of the festival, parents will be invited to Griffin Schools Trust schools to view the work their children have been working on in a showcase ceremony.

#PromsInThePlayground is part of their Brass Foundations programme of educational opportunities to support and inspire the next generation of brass players.

From 5 – 23 July bands, schools and music hubs will be coming together to make a noise whilst also re-establishing important links in their local communities.

“We are suggesting community bands connect with their local schools by offering a performance in their playground” said Sarah Baumann, BBE’s Education and Development manager. “This could just be a small group of players, and always in line with the COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time. As well as getting young people excited about brass banding, this initiative can help schools to forge and build fruitful ongoing relationships with musical providers in their local area.”

BBE has a team of expert Youth Development Brass Specialists on hand to support the planning and delivery of those wanting to take part, and are welcoming contact from schools that are interested in becoming involved. All those taking part can access Covid-19 safety guidance and resources from the Brass Bands England website.

BBE youth specialist Paul Fisher commented: “It’s really exciting to see so many schools and bands across the country gearing up for their Proms In The Playground this July. This initiative is all about inspiring the next generation of musicians, so bands that take part are playing an important role in supporting that talent pipeline by introducing young people to brass playing. I can’t wait to get on with making some great music for the kids to enjoy!”

You can follow #PromsInThePlayground across social media, via the hashtag or get in touch with Brass Bands England at info@bbe.org.uk if you’d like to participate.

BBC Young Composer has launched countless musical careers since its inception in 1998. Formerly known as the BBC Proms Inspire competition, since rebranding in 2020 with a mission to reach a wider pool of talent, last year saw the highest ever number of entries. Entrants embraced a wide range of musical styles, with influences ranging from hip-hop and electronica to contemporary classical and orchestral film music. Inspiration for their works came from a wide variety of subjects including racial identity, the natural world and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The BBC is seeking musically-minded students aged 12 – 18 of all technical abilities, backgrounds, and musical influences to submit an original composition and recording. Any genre, any instruments, and any method of composing are welcome – music-makers may not think of themselves as a composer, but if they love to create their own original music then the BBC wants to hear from them. All compositions are judged anonymously and assessed on their compositional idea, creativity and originality.

Winners will be given the brilliant opportunity to participate in a tailored development programme working with a mentor composer on a project with the BBC Concert Orchestra, culminating in a performance or broadcast opportunity.

In what’s been a challenging year for so many young people, BBC Young Composer hopes to inspire young people from all over the UK to get creative and submit their work.

David Pickard, Director of BBC Proms, says: “There is a wealth of musical talent across the UK, and it’s more important than ever to nurture the next generation of music-makers from every style and genre. It’s been a privilege to watch previous winners develop as composers, and last year’s competition saw such variety – not only in musical style, but also in inspiration with thought-provoking themes explored. The BBC is incredibly proud to be able to offer these mentorship opportunities for young musical innovators and we look forward to hearing from aspiring composers working in all genres.”

The competition sits at the heart of BBC Young Composer, which has offered a platform for hundreds of young composers aged 12 – 18 from across the UK to further their artistic and professional ambitions. Many of today’s leading composers are counted in the outstanding list of BBC Young Composer alumni, including Shiva Feshareki, Kate Whitley, Alissa Firsova, Mark Simpson, Tom Harrold, and Duncan Ward.

BBC Young Composer remains committed to assisting its alumni in launching their careers through its Ambassador scheme, connecting composers to commissioning opportunities at the BBC. Recent alumni, including Grace-Evangeline Mason, Alex Woolf, Xia Leon Sloane and Sarah Jenkins, have been commissioned by BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Proms.

The judging panel for the 2021 Young Composer Competition will be announced in due course.

Entries close at 5pm on Monday 28 June, and the competition is open to young people aged 12-18 (at the closing date). Please visit bbc.co.uk/youngcomposer to find the rules of the competition and how to enter.

The existing music facilities cannot accommodate bands greater than 4-5 members, and due to the positioning of the space below residential accommodation, the times available for use are limited due to noise breakout. With over 560 student residents on site at Collingwood College, the College were keen to listen to the views of the students, many of whom had been requesting an updated and expanded music provision.

The approved plans, which were put together by GSSArchitecture, incorporate high-quality facilities including a live room, drum booth, vocal studio, circulation/break out space and practice rooms. In order to provide a facility that will better suit the needs of the students, the layout has been designed to divide the space in to three sections: recording, social & entrance, and practice. This layout ensures reduced disruption to the recording suite from the practice rooms, therefore providing an improved space compared to the current music provision, which does not have dedicated spaces for recording and practising.

The single storey building is to be constructed on an existing car park at the College, adjacent to a major student circulation route to and from the campus. GSSArchitecture adopted a sustainable approach to the design of the building, including photo-voltaic panels.

Speaking of the approved designs for the new custom music facility, Professor Joe Elliott, Principal at Collingwood College, said “GSS has once again provided us with an iconic design that will enable our students to maximise their potential.”

The series will launch on Wednesday 6 January 2021, the day of Twelfth Night itself, with a celebratory reading by Michael Morpurgo, who will share his contemporary retelling of Shakespeare’s funny and touching tale of the same name alongside performed scenes from the play.

With additional titles including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, these performances are suitable for young people from Key Stages 1-4 and feature Michael Morpurgo himself as well as performances by the RSC’s current Acting Company.

Tales from Shakespeare will be streamed as live free into UK schools at 11am each Friday for a five-week period starting from Friday 8 January 2021. The recordings will then be available on demand for a three-month period for all schools who register.

Each event will then be available from 11am the following Monday for families to watch online on demand for seven days at a cost of £5 per family.

For more information, visit https://www.rsc.org.uk/education/schools-broadcasts/

The school received their iPad deployment as part of Glasgow City Council’s digital learning strategy, in conjunction with CGI, and been using the devices as teaching tools since they were rolled out to pupils in August 2020.

The devices are used in 50% of all Dance classes at the school, led by teacher and Digital Literacy Coordinator, Sophie Lamont, who has found that they have provided new ways for pupils to express their own creativity and improve their technical skills.

Sophie Lamont (left, with Rosshall Academy students) said, “People might initially think digital devices are only useful across more theoretical subjects, but I frequently make use of them in my Dance classes, with great success. The slow-motion function of the video app has made it easier to highlight certain moves they need to learn or can demonstrate ways they can improve their technique. Whether it’s adding shoulder roll or improving a plie, seeing their movements in this detail is what is allowing students to access the next stage of their ability.”

The class use iPad apps Keynote and Pages and through the video function the pupils can send recordings to their teachers for assessment and receive feedback on their performance and skills.

Sophie continued: “In using the devices, the pupils can clearly see areas where they are excelling or need to improve, encouraging control and balance within the choreography, which they would miss just by watching themselves in a mirror performing. This can lead to big improvements in their confidence and technical ability, which helps them elevate their performance and I am certain, will support them as they progress, helping them to achieve their National 5 or Higher qualification.

“Using iPad in subjects like Dance will also give the next generation of dancers the skills they need to thrive in an industry that will ultimately be digital led. They will be able to adapt and communicate quickly and easily deliver a higher quality performance as they can be more aware of their own skills.”

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills and Early Years said: “We are delighted with the success of the Connected Learning programme and the completion of the iPad deployment across all of our schools. What’s become very apparent is the flexibility across all subject matters and how our teachers and pupils have engaged with iPad to improve creativity, connectivity, and accessibility across learning and teaching.”

Supporting the use of iPad to improve dance skills and technique, Linzi McLagan, Head of Education at YDance (Scottish Youth Dance), said: “During the pandemic, iPad has enabled YDance to maintain our engagement with young people across Scotland, albeit differently. Technology has allowed us to stay connected, and record and reflect on our dance practice for both peer and self-analysis. We can’t wait to put all we’ve learnt into practice and continue to use technology as a support tool for live dance in the studio.”

Alongside their studies and through the new Scholarship, students will work on a wide range of creative projects in response to client commissions and develop key technical skills, whilst using the newly-opened TV studio space on site at the College, designed specifically with the Scholarship in mind. The Scholarship programme will challenge students and stretch their problem-solving, critical thinking, technical understanding and professional practice skills.

Bob Coates, Director, Cambridge TV, said: “Cambridge TV is delighted to be working in partnership with Impington International College to create a unique scholarship programme which delivers both academic and practical skills. Students will work on real projects, learn alongside industry professionals and build a portfolio of broadcast quality video output second to none.”

Accessible to all students, the Scholarship is designed to complement the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) on offer at the College. Impington International College has been offering the IB for 30 years and was recently crowned the UK’s top non-selective provider of the IB by the Sunday Times Parent Power list 2020.

Jo Sale, Vice Principal, Impington International College, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Cambridge TV for our new Film and Media Scholarship, which will give our students such an incredible opportunity to gain first-hand experience and insider knowledge in order to grow their passions and understanding of film, media and production; giving them the very best chance at achieving their dreams. We are excited that students will also benefit from the new on-site TV studio, which will stimulate our students’ creativity and allow them to refine their skills while working and studying independently so that they are ready to progress to their chosen career.”

The new Film and Media Scholarship is available alongside the College’s other well-established Scholarships, including: The Performance School and a number of Sports Scholarships in partnership with a range of professional teams. If you’re interested in finding out more about post-16 options at Impington International College, you can book a 1:1 meeting with a senior member of staff to ask any questions that you may have. To do so, please get in touch via: international@ivc.tmet.org.uk.