Independent Chair of the Surrey Music Hub Advisory Board

• Reference:orbis/TP/472/30030
• Positions:1
• Salary:Expenses paid up to £3000 per annum
• Category:Cultural Services
• Contract type:Volunteer
• Working hours:2-3 days per quarter (8-12 days per year)
• Posted on:9 January 2023
• Closing date:12 February 2023
• Directorate:Partnership
• Location:No fixed location - attendance at meetings in Guildford

About the role

Surrey Music Hub (the Music Education Hub for Surrey) is seeking to appoint an Independent Chair.

This is a voluntary position with an allowance of up to £3,000 for expenses. 

About you

You will be passionate about ensuring that all children and young people can access high quality music education opportunities that meet their needs. This role offers an opportunity for the right individual to make a difference to the lives of the children and young people of Surrey through music.

You will chair the Hub's Advisory Board, working alongside the Music Hub lead organisation, Surrey Arts, and partners to ensure and maintain the effective delivery of the new National Plan for Music Education (NPME) both in and out of school settings.

The Independent Chair will need to have significant experience and expertise in partnership working and strategic thinking, business and budget monitoring and management. The chair will commit to developing a thorough knowledge and understanding of the needs of, and challenges for, children and young people, issues affecting Local Authorities and schools, Arts Council England/Department for Education policy relating to Music Education Hubs and the breadth of music providers working in Surrey. Experience in music/music education is not required as we are seeking to broaden the range of experience and skills to help drive our future development forward.

You will be required to attend to four board meetings plus preparation per year; at least one meeting per year will be in-person. Other meetings as advised. 

The chair role will run for a term of 3 years with an opportunity to be reappointed.

About us

Surrey Music Hub is a partnership led by Surrey Arts. It serves the local authority area of Surrey County Council with a total school population of 158,000 children, in 392 state maintained, academy and free schools (221 state maintained, 165 academy, 6 free schools including 8 pupil referral units), through music making and the arts and cultural offer. The lead partner in Surrey Music Hub is Surrey Arts, which is part of Surrey County Council (SCC) Cultural Services. The Hub is overseen by the Surrey Music Hub Steering Board, which is made up of partners and local stakeholders and is currently chaired by the Head of Surrey Arts.

Core roles of Surrey Music Hub: 

• Ensure that every child aged 5 to 18 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through whole class ensemble teaching programmes. 
• Provide opportunities to play in ensembles and to perform from an early stage. 
• Ensure that clear progression routes are available and affordable to all young people. 
• Develop a singing strategy to ensure that every pupil is singing regularly, and that choirs and other vocal ensembles are available in the area.

Extension roles of Surrey Music Hub: 

• Offer Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to school staff, particularly in supporting schools to deliver music in the curriculum. 
• Provide an instrument loan service, with discounts or free provision for those on low incomes. 
• Provide access to large scale and/or high-quality music experiences for pupils, working with professional musicians and/or venues. This may include undertaking work to publicise the opportunities available to schools, parents/carers and students. 

Additional information

How to apply

Application and C.V. to be sent to sarah.lee@surreycc.gov.uk.

For more information or an informal chat please email sarah.lee@surreycc.gov.uk.

Deadline for applications: 12th February 2023 

Interviews: 28th February 2023 

About the organisation

Surrey Arts, the Arts Service for Surrey County Council, is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and would especially welcome applications from the 'global majority', the LGBTQ+ community and people who are disabled.

Equality, diversity and inclusion is central to our organisation and we are committed to its development at all levels of the organisation as outlined in our EDI strategy.