Line Manager and Senior Leadership Engagement
Empowering school leaders to support excellence in music education.
Strong leadership is essential to the success of any subject—including music. However, music education presents unique challenges that require specific understanding and strategic oversight.
That’s why I offer bespoke guidance and training for line managers, senior leadership teams (SLT), and trust-wide leaders to support the development, evaluation, and strategic planning of music provision in secondary schools.
Why Leadership Engagement Matters
Music departments often operate as small teams—or even as one-person departments—which can make targeted support and informed leadership oversight more challenging. Effective music leadership depends on:
- Understanding the distinctive nature of music pedagogy and curriculum
- Recognising the unique assessment practices used in music at KS3, GCSE, and A Level
- Supporting ambitious, inclusive, and progressive curriculum design
- Navigating Ofsted expectations and whole-school improvement priorities
- Championing the arts within wider school culture and policy
When senior leaders are well-equipped with subject-specific knowledge, they’re better positioned to ask the right questions, offer meaningful challenge and support, and drive improvement in music education.
What I Offer
I offer bespoke Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions designed specifically for secondary music educators. These sessions can be delivered one-to-one, department-wide, or across networks and trusts, and can take place in person or online.
Leadership Training and CPD
Practical and informative sessions for SLT and line managers, including:
- Understanding high-quality music teaching: What it looks like, how it’s structured, and how it differs from other subjects
- Curriculum conversations: Interrogating curriculum intent, implementation, and impact
- Assessment in music: Making sense of progress, data, and moderation
Deep Dive preparation: Supporting confident and credible leadership conversations with inspectors
Departmental Reviews and Strategic Planning
Support for school and trust leaders in reviewing and developing music provision, including:
- Department health checks and curriculum audits
- Strategic planning for improvement or expansion
- Building arts-rich cultures across schools and MATs
Coaching & Mentoring
Ongoing leadership development for those involved in arts education, offering:
- One-to-one coaching
- Support for aspiring arts leads or SLT members with responsibility for music
- Insight into how music can contribute to whole-school priorities
To find out how I can support your school or trust, please get in touch at fionasextonmusic@outlook.com.
