THE Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust (DMAT) has embarked on an exciting and ambitious partnership with The Voices Foundation.

They will be working with all 14 primary schools within the Trust — which includes Holsworthy Community College and Bridgerule and Bradford primary schools — to develop and embed a progressive music curriculum for their pupils, staff and school communities.

Artist practitioners from the Voices Foundation will work with every single classroom teacher across all 14 DMAT schools to give them the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver a high-quality music education through singing.

Manvinder Rattan, CEO of The Voices Foundation, said: “I am delighted that we will be working with Dartmoor MAT to help support musical development for their teachers and, through them, so many pupils at their schools.

“We know that COVID has had adverse effects on so many aspects of school life, not least the wellbeing of children and we also know that more and better singing not only helps improve wellbeing but also has a positive impact on attainment levels across the curriculum. I look forward to seeing the pupils of Dartmoor enjoying the benefits of all that in due course.”

The programme will run across the academic year and will culminate in a ‘Singing Celebration’ at the end of the summer term to showcase everything that the teachers and pupils have learnt.

The hope is that this partnership will embed music and singing into school life through the curriculum and engages teachers and children by focusing on sustainable and integrated music education for all.

The Voices Foundation is a national music charity working to help schools, academies and other partners from across the UK to establish effective music education since 1993. Everyone has a voice, and the belief is that singing is a powerful way for children to become proficient musicians, excel across the curriculum and develop self-esteem. 

Veronica Lloyd Richards, associate executive director of schools for Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust, said: “We are truly excited to begin work with the Voices Foundation and support the positive impact it will have across all our primary schools. Our Trust is bursting with creativity and talent, and we believe that every student should have the chance to express themselves through singing and experience the joy of making music together”