ASONE Hub Announces Successful Lead Schools to Champion Music Education in Cornwall
ASONE Hub Announces Successful Lead Schools to Champion Music Education in Cornwall
ASONE Hub is proud to announce Cornwall’s first cohort of Lead Schools, dedicated to championing and advancing music education across the region. These schools have been chosen for their exemplary music provision and their commitment to nurturing vibrant local school networks in line with the National Plan for Music Education (NPME) and Cornwall’s Local Plan for Music Education (LPME).
What is a Lead School?
Lead Schools play a vital role in championing music education and strengthening local school networks as key partners of ASONE Hub. Their core purpose, as outlined in the National Plan for Music Education (NPME), is to support and enhance music provision across their communities - working collaboratively to help other schools improve their music education offer.
As ambassadors for music education, Lead Schools model the behaviours and practices expected of schools in delivering high-quality music learning. They work closely with the Hub to understand local needs, promote shared messaging around the value of music, and encourage participation in both curriculum and co-curricular musical activities.
In addition, Lead Schools champion inclusion by forging strong links with special and alternative provision settings and advocating for equity of access and diversity in musical experiences. They also play a key role in supporting the professional development of music educators, ensuring long-term impact and sustainability across the region.
Lead Schools & Designated Areas
In line with ASONE Hub’s programme objectives, each school leads in a specific area of strength.
Bodriggy Academy - Instrumental Provision
Charlotte Hocking, Music Lead
A Journey of Joy, Growth, and Connection - At Bodriggy Academy, music is at the heart of our school community. It gives every child a voice, helping them express themselves with confidence, creativity, and joy. Music builds self-discipline through practice and performance, and it boosts self-esteem as children see their progress and share their talents with others.
For many of our pupils, music is where they truly shine, especially those who may find other subjects more challenging. It opens doors to success, helping every child feel valued and capable. Through singing, playing instruments, and composing, our children develop a deep love for creativity and the arts. Music brings us together, creating shared experiences that inspire pride and passion.
Over the past five years, our music journey has grown into something truly special. Our curriculum is now fully based on instrumental learning and music technology. Singing is woven throughout school life - from weekly assemblies and choir to whole-school events and classroom learning. We’re especially proud that all our teachers now deliver music lessons to their own classes, making music a shared and inclusive experience.
Becoming a Lead School with ASONE is an exciting next step. We wanted to share our journey and support other schools - especially those where teachers may not have a music background. Our aim is to help non-specialists feel confident, prepared, and excited to bring music into their classrooms.
As the Lead Primary School for Instrument Provision, we’re honoured to be part of the ASONE team of Lead Schools. Whether your school is just beginning its music journey or looking to build on what’s already in place, we’re here to help. Together, we can bring the joy of music to more children and create school communities where music helps everyone thrive.
Devoran School - Performance Opportunities and Community Intersection
Victoria Lock, Head Teacher
At Devoran School, we are committed to broadening children’s horizons and raising aspirations by providing a rich variety of meaningful experiences that help every child discover their niche. Central to this vision is our strong emphasis on community involvement and performance opportunities, both of which play a vital role in shaping confident, well-rounded individuals and are embedded throughout our curriculum.
We believe in the power of celebrating our community and the deep sense of belonging and pride it brings to our children. Through our extensive work within the community, we offer regular opportunities for our pupils to perform, connect and grow - experiences that create lasting memories and help nurture empathy, creativity, and self-belief.
We are incredibly proud of our music provision, which we prioritise for its profound impact on children's wellbeing and development. I am especially proud of how many opportunities to perform we give to our children. As a result, we are creating individuals who genuinely enjoy participating in events and are confident in expressing themselves. These moments stay with the children for life and seeing them grow through performance is truly special. This is something I am deeply passionate about, and I would love the opportunity to support other schools in offering the same.
As a Lead School for Performance Opportunities and Community Intersection, we are ready to share our practice and collaborate with others. We look forward to working alongside ASONE Hun to help bring the power of performance and community connection to more children across the region.
Hayle Academy - Music Technology
Claire Brown, Head of Music
I have been teaching in West Cornwall for 21 years, and after spending a decade at Mounts Bay Academy, I recently embraced an exciting new challenge at Hayle Academy, continuing my commitment to music education in Cornwall. Throughout my career, I have taught across Key Stages 2, 3, 4, and 5, delivering GCSE and A Level Music and Music Technology across multiple exam boards, alongside vocational Level 2 qualifications, including BTEC, NCFE, and RSL.
As a Musical Futures Champion Teacher, I have led initiatives that contributed to my schools being recognised as Music Mark Schools and awarded a Challenge Partners Area of Excellence in Music. My department was honoured to receive the first Bernice McCabe Award from the Prince’s Teaching Institute in March 2020. I also completed my NPQSL, focusing on the use of digital technologies in the classroom to close attainment gaps for SEN and PP students.
I am the Subject Leader and Coordinator for the Prince’s Teaching Institute, working with and supporting music departments across the country in curriculum design, improving recruitment, and raising student outcomes. I design and deliver online, one-day, and residential CPD for music teachers and have been fortunate enough to be a keynote speaker at some of these events.
I am passionate about integrating digital technologies into my teaching and music-making. For the past 10 years, I have embedded iPads into Key Stage 3 and 4 lessons, fully embracing them as an essential part of my practice. My enthusiasm for Music Technology extends across a variety of Level 2 and 3 courses, where I have taught using industry-standard software. I applied for Hayle Academy to become a lead school for Music Technology, with the ambition of supporting teachers and students across different year groups - helping them develop the skills and confidence to compose and perform effectively using a range of technologies.
Nancledra School - Bridging the Gap: Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Accessibility (IDEA)
Lucy Ainsley Clough, Music Lead
At Nancledra School, music is its own curriculum subject and is taught as a subject in its own academic right. We believe it is important to provide children with a strong foundation of musical skills, knowledge and understanding, whilst also helping children develop their own sense of being and self-confidence. Our lessons are hands-on, with a clearly mapped progression pathway as children move through the school. We use a mastery approach, allowing each child to develop at their own pace.
Music also serves as a powerful medium for nurturing children's confidence through performance. This means that our pupils do not just develop musical ability - they also experience personal growth. Our aim is for every child to leave Nancledra as a confident, proud performer with a strong appreciation and understanding of music. Music is a core subject within our curriculum, and we see it as a valuable tool to help children explore their identity, build self-confidence and encourage self-expression.
Over the years, we have supported children with high levels of need by making both physical adaptations and other necessary adjustments to ensure their full inclusion in all music lessons. We have also funded music therapy for students who have particularly benefited from this specialised support. I feel really sad if I hear someone say 'they can't access a music lesson', because I believe with the right adapting they can. A few years ago, we noticed that singing was not widely embraced by boys. In response, we created a dads' choir to provide positive male role models. As a result, there is now improved gender disparity when it comes to singing and performing.
As Lead School for IDEA, we’re passionate about breaking down barriers to music education and providing support for other schools to do so too.
St Columb Major School - Collective and Crossphase Singing
Sue Christophers, Trust Music Specialist
Music is at the heart of our school community. We believe it creates memories, opens doors, and connects us all. Within our school community music is inclusive and exciting - a space where every child can find their voice, take creative risks, and grow. We sing together in assemblies, filling the hall with energy, smiles, and a shared sense of belonging. From a rich variety of music genres and eras, to live performances and concerts and to classroom music-making and clubs, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. During their time with us, we believe every child should have the chance to shine through music—whether it's their first notes on a glockenspiel, their big break in a rock band, singing or performing on stage, therefore we try to create stepping stones: opportunities that spark passion, build skills, and create lasting connections within and beyond our school.
St Columb Major Academy is a lead school for singing. We applied to become a lead school as we have a strong musical and singing culture which has evolved through passion and the sharing of good practice within school through CPD. As a staff we recognise that singing is a powerful tool for wellbeing, learning, and connection. When it happens regularly, is enjoyable and inclusive, it brings children, staff and communities together, lifts spirits and builds a sense of belonging and confidence. From the classroom singing within our music curriculum to assemblies, collective singing within school and as part of the wider community singing has sense a purpose. We strive to engage with projects such as Songfest, The Big Sing, Choirfest and Cornwall Youth Choir, in addition to local traditional events, to expose children to others with the same interest and passion and create inspiring connections.
As Lead School for Collective and Crossphase Singing, we're passionate about developing teacher confidence to create opportunities for children to sing within their schools, in addition to supporting and inspiring experiences and connections beyond them.
Newquay Tretherras School - Ensemble Development
Bethany Wade, Head of Music
At Newquay Tretherras School, our aim is to inspire engagement and creativity in every one of our students, regardless of their musical background and prior experience. Passionate and inspiring teaching is key in inspiring our students. All teachers promote their own musicianship through modelling work, singing, playing instruments and engagement in music of all styles. We aspire to provide a relevant, high-quality music education that engages and inspires our students to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and a sense of achievement.
We applied to become a Lead School because we believe in collaboration and working together. We want schools to have even more opportunities to come together to showcase the talent of their students and celebrate the amazing music happening in schools. Applying to be a Lead Schol means creating provisions for visiting professionals to run workshops and masterclasses, sharing resources and skills, and organising events, trips and experiences in our subject area. These moments are what shape a child's future path in further music education or ignites a spark to consider a career in music.
Statement from ASONE Hub
“We are thrilled to partner with schools in Cornwall that are passionate about music education and eager to lead positive change. These Lead Schools will be key to fostering inclusive, innovative, and collaborative music learning experiences that benefit all students.” Millie Young, Head of Programme.
Next Steps
To get in touch with any of our Lead Schools, please email ASONE Hub.