LATEST NEWS
Reframing Advocacy in Music Education
Free Guide for 2025/26
The Creative Educator shares an up-to-date guide to advocacy in Music Education in the U.K. Whether a rural, coastal, suburb or city school, you can pick up ideas for promoting music education within your setting. Inclusive of current campaigns, programmes and key organisations, review our Reframing Advocacy Guide to support students in your musical setting today!
Music Teacher Network Session
Monday 13th October 2025
4:45 - 5:30 pm
Online via Zoom
Welcome to the Music Teacher Network Session!
Join us for an exciting online event where music teachers from around the world come together to share their knowledge and experiences. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this session is perfect for anyone looking to connect with other music educators.
Join us in this informal networking and sharing space.
Looking forward to seeing you online.
FREE Ebook: Effective Extra-Curricular Provision in Music
The Creative Educator, Jenetta Hurst publishes her first Ebook: Effective Extra Curricular Provision in Music
Jenetta Hurst shares 20 years of experience from the ground up, of working in music education. In the Ebook, Jenetta poses key questions and addresses:
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Delivery of a strong co-curricular or extra-curricular programme
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Engaging staff in the delivery of extra-curricular provision
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Working in Partnership
‘A well-planned extra-curricular activity will create space for originality, problem-solving, team work, independence and listening to a range of music that will stimulate new ideas. Pass it on and foster joy for students through the provision of a creative
activity.’
Government guidance outlines the following:
School leaders and music teachers should be able to articulate how their provision ensures every aspiring musician in their school can access the high-quality. opportunities they need.
The Power of Music to Change Lives: National Plan for Music Education, 2022, p.3
Join me on this journey to planning for, reviewing and implementing a refined co-curricular offer in your school music department!
New appointment: Chair of Trustees for Lewisham Music
The Creative Educator is delighted to have been appointed Chair of Trustees at Lewisham Music Hub in March of 2025. Of the appointment, CEO of Lewisham Music Keith Sykes said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Jenetta to the Lewisham Music team. Her passion for music, education and equity shines through in everything she does, and her values align perfectly with ours. With Jenetta’s leadership, we’re excited to continue our mission to make positive change in young people’s lives through music - across Lewisham and beyond.”
Upcoming Course: Reframing Advocacy for Music Education | The Secondary Music Teaching Series
Monday 29th September 2025
4:00 - 5:30 pm
Online
£22.50(+VAT); Free to Music Mark Members
Founder of The Creative Educator, Jen Hurst will lead the first of three sessions for Music Mark, as part of the Secondary Music Teaching series. During this online event, delegates will learn key insights on how to best advocate for music to the senior leadership of your secondary school. This session is framed on one of the three pledges that schools will agree to if they receive a Music Mark of Recognition from their music service: “Advocate for the importance of music education in the curriculum and creative life of the school.”
Dates of all sessions in the series:
Session 1: Monday 29th September 2025, 4:00 - 5:30 pm - Reframing Advocacy for Music Education. Session 2: Wednesday 4th February 2026, 5:00 6:30 pm - Actionable Implementation of Inspirational Inclusive Practice in the Music Room.
Session 3: Tuesday 9th June 2026, 5:00 - 6:30 pm - Building Partnerships: Broadening Provision through Community Music-Making and the Wider Sector.
Upcoming Course: Contemporary Curriculum Design - Building on the National Plan for Music Education
Tuesday 25th November 2025
4:30 - 6:30 pm
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA.
£15; Free to young people aged 16 - 25, students and unwaged.
The Creative Educator, Jen Hurst will lead a session for Sound Connections exploring how to build inclusive, flexible and relevant music curricula rooted in national guidance and 21st-century practice. A session for music educators at all stages of their development and focusing on DIY Curriculum Design incorporating contemporary genres, Elements over Genre, and National Policy in Practice.
Jenetta joins the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Learning Support Scheme as an evaluation consultant.
During 2025 and 2026, Jenetta will be supporting Paul Hamlyn Foundation grant holders as a consultant evaluator. As part of a three-person team via Abigail D’Amore Associates, Jenetta will advise on evaluation tools, evaluation design and course content for grant recipients.
The Creative Educator addresses the
ISM Trust Conference 2021
Founder of The Creative Educator, Jen Hurst, was invited to participate in the panel ‘Does music education have a future in England?’ at the ISM Trust’s Where to next for music education? Conference, in November 2021.
Jen delivered a speech on the topic and had the honour of contributing to a wider discussion, along with esteemed panellists, Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, Phil Castang, Kevin Rogers and Carl Ward. The panel was chaired by ISM Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts.