Education partnerships

Education partnership and collaboration are integral to the RBC Learning and Participation Department. We value and support music and arts partners through a range of joint ventures with reciprocal benefits. Our partners include music education hubs, schools and arts organisations.

School students using music studio

RBC works with a range of music education partners including most recently Birmingham Music Education HubGloucestershire MusicLancashire Music HubLeicestershire MusicSheffield Music Hub and Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust. We work with our partners to enhance their provision, with RBC staff and students delivering a range of opportunities including side-by-side experiences for young instrumentalists and youth orchestras, dynamic performances for primary school children, and CPD for music hub staff and classroom teachers. Our students support the delivery of this programme, often going back to visit the areas where they learnt as under-18s.

In 2024 we launched our first Primary School of Music. RBC St Benedict’s Primary School of Music in Small Heath, Birmingham, provides a range of opportunities for staff and pupils in the school with the aim of building a sustainable model of primary music education. Through the programme, class teachers develop their confidence to deliver music in the classroom. RBC students assist in delivering the programme, gaining valuable skills whilst supporting the young learners.

As well as training music educators of the future, RBC works with education partners to provide continuing professional development opportunities for their staff. This ranges from one-off training days, to our new postgraduate course PG Cert Musician as Educator.

Our partnerships with organisations often lead to future employment for our students. For example, through our partnership with Orchestras for All, a number of our graduates now work regularly for the organisation. The RBC/OFA Orchestral Tutor scheme has given five students the opportunities to develop their skills in inclusive music practice. Our placement scheme with In Harmony Telford & Stoke-on-Trent has led to a number of graduates joining their delivery team.

Our work in schools across the region allows us to support the development of young musicians as well as providing opportunities for our students to gain first-hand experience of putting the skills learnt on their course into practice. Placements in schools enable RBC students to learn from experienced class teachers. We have a network of primary and secondary schools who we work with regularly in a variety of ways, including ensemble development, composition workshops, curriculum support and CPD for teachers.

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Opportunities for RBC students

At RBC, we ensure all our students to have the opportunity to explore a wide range of activities which could feature in successful future portfolio career. Many students who engage with the L&P programme go on to have successful teaching, community and social work as part of their musical careers.

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Pathways for young musicians

At RBC, we believe all young people should have access to high quality music provision and to be able to progress in their musical journeys if they wish to. To that end, we run a number of programme designed to provide opportunities for young musicians.

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Education partnerships

Our education partnerships aim to support the music education sector in a variety of ways as well as providing opportunities for our students. As well as training music educators of the future, RBC works with education partners to provide continuing professional development opportunities for their staff.

Find out more