Dear supporters, We are being heard! Last night there was a debate in the House of Lords about music education, and the Lords cited Don’t Stop the Music many times throughout the discussion. All the key issues which we say need action were raised in the debate: more attention to schools’ music from Ofsted, teacher training, funding, and also progression opportunities for children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Here’s a link to a short article about the debate: http://www.dontstopthemusic.co.uk/latest/campaign/lords-debate-music-education This is tremendous as it means our voices are having an impact in the corridors of power. The door is ajar, and we must keep pushing. So today I’m hoping you will help with two pushes. - Petition We need to get to the target 100,000 signatures. Please share my petition with your friends, family – anyone you can think of. http://www.change.org/dontstopthemusic - Ofsted consultation For those who haven’t yet done so, please add your voice to the Ofsted consultation I emailed about last week. (Click here for the email: https://www.change.org/p/nicky-morgan-deliver-the-government-s-promise-to-give-every-child-the-chance-to-learn-an-instrument/u/8489854) Ofsted is looking at making changes to the way it inspects schools, and is gathering opinions from anyone interested. It’s a valuable opportunity for us to tell Ofsted that it needs to pay specific attention to music. If Ofsted put music in the inspection framework and handbook, or specified that music must be evaluated properly during regular school inspections, it will get closer scrutiny by inspectors, and head teachers will be more empowered to ensure a good quality music education is part of every child's life. Ofsted says that the new inspection framework must place a greater emphasis on the breadth of the curriculum in schools. Here’s our chance to make sure that it does. Please take a few minutes to respond to the Ofsted consultation, if you’ve not done so already. It might look long, but you only have to fill in a couple of sections. After completing initial details, you can just skip through without answering the other questions (just keep pressing ‘Next’ at the bottom of the pages) – until you get to Q.12, where you can add your comments in the box. Access it here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/futureofinspection If you want some ideas about what to say, here are some suggestions: - Ofsted MUST include music inspection as part of their inspection regime, and produce evidence of that in their school reports. - No school should be able to be classed as good or outstanding if it is not at least good or outstanding in music. - Music is a vital part of the curriculum, and must be properly examined during Ofsted inspections. It would also help spread the word if you could tell us you’ve responded – tweet us @JamesRhodesDSTM, or post to our Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/1rp9H5s Ofsted must take all the responses to this consultation into account. So please do have your say: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/futureofinspection You can access the full consultation document here: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/consultations/b/Better%20inspection%20for%20all.pdf