Who’s the Governor?

Susan Young explores the role of the music governor.

I’m a governor at my local primary school – a small village school. As the governor with responsibility for music, I constantly pipe up to ensure that ‘my’ curriculum area receives its fair share of attention, particularly when the budget is being allocated or policies reviewed. I find I frequently have to remind staff and governors of music’s value and, importantly, that it should be embedded in the curriculum and not an occasional add-on. I point out to my fellow governors and the senior leadership team that a well-rounded music education is more than a bit of singing here and there in assembly or at end of term events. Important though these activities are, music education is much, much more. Nor is it enough to rely on the music hub specialists who arrive for a term every now and then to fill the school with the sound of massed brass instruments or small violins as Year Threes and Fours struggle with the first steps of technique. I am there to speak up, again and again, that there should be provision for curriculum music that is continuous and progressive across all the years from Preschool to Year Six.

So to all early years leaders and primary music coordinators, my question is - do you know which governor has responsibility for music, and are they doing a good job in championing music when it comes to budget and resource decisions, and when policies are being put in place? Do they by Susan Youngmeet with you regularly to discuss music across the school, pop in and see what is going on and write a visit report for the governing body that you have seen? Are they ensuring that music is valued and included and that it is properly staffed, resourced and accommodated? And if they are a good governor –and of course I pride myself on being an excellent governor! – they’ll back you up, provide encouragement and a listening ear when you need it.