Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

BMS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Brent Music Service Statement of Purpose:

Supporting the right of all children and young people in Brent to an excellent music education which inspires, enriches lives and develops a life-long love of music.

Brent’s diverse, multi-cultural community makes it a dynamic and challenging environment in which to teach. Pupils display great enjoyment and energy in their music making, and our challenge is to harness this natural enthusiasm, making music a fun and stimulating activity for all, whilst at the same time identifying and developing those children with aptitude so that they can reach their full potential as musicians.

Following the 2022 full-staff meeting, seeking input from the wider BMS staff team, the leadership team set out a clear vision to steer BMS into the future and a set of professional values. 

1. Clear Statement of Purpose and Vision which is pupil focused

2. A staff engaged in striving towards it

3. Excellence in teaching and learning across whole service

4. Clear pedagogical approaches which all staff employ

5. A culture of continual improvement across the service

6. A leadership with shared values working towards the same goals

7. Clear progression routes from EYFS to pro/adult

8. Diverse and inclusive musical offering embedded in the local community

9. Effective relationships with schools, parents, Brent Council and partnership organisations

10. Financially secure

1. Transparency - speaking honestly and directly, sharing working, give feedback, ask questions

2. Mature collaboration - respectful, considered, transparent, supportive, can-do (solution focused) openness, critical friend, 

3. Embracing continual improvement - individual and collectively 

4. Rigorous reflection and clear communication around learning

5. High expectations and challenging mediocrity

6. Collective responsibility and individual accountability 

7. All staff holding themselves accountable to an agreed set of pedagogical approaches

8. More opportunities for PLC (Learning from mistakes/safe space)

9. Recognise and celebrate successes

10. Wellbeing of staff and pupils a priority

Brent Music Service is part of the Children and Young People’s department, Brent Council and adheres to council policy and strategy. 

Brent Council Website Resources:

Equality and Diversity  - https://www.brent.gov.uk/the-council-and-democracy/strategies-priorites-and-policies/equality-and-diversity#equalityinbrent

Brent Council Equality Strategy 2019-23 - https://legacy.brent.gov.uk/media/16417604/equality-strategy-2019-23.pdf

Brent Council equality objectives 2019-2023

1.       Understand the barriers to equality experienced in Brent and act to remove them.

2.       Provide accessible information and services that are tailored to people’s needs.

3.       Tackle hate, harassment and victimisation.

4.       Lead the way in encouraging diversity to flourish in Brent.

Brent Council's 'Moving Brent Forward Together for 2023-2027' 

Read the full plan here.

“The London Borough of Brent is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the United Kingdom. We are extremely proud of this and believe it is one of our strongest assets. We have been awarded the title of London Borough of Culture 2020 and this will be a year-long celebration of cultural diversity. Now and always, we want to ensure that we are meeting the needs of everyone who lives, works and studies in Brent. To do this, we need to make equality and diversity practices a part of everyday business. This Equality Strategy has been developed in order to help us do just that. It is our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion for the next four years. Following consultation with all of our partners and with the help of Brent residents and workers, we have determined our vision for equality in Brent over the next four years: Removing inequality – building a better Brent”

“Brent is the second most culturally diverse borough in the UK and our long history of ethnic and cultural diversity is not only one of our greatest strengths and assets, but valued by those who live and work here. Respect for equality is at the heart of what we do and we are committed to improving the services we provide to residents and our staff.” Brent Council Website

All BMEH music programmes and activities seek to maximise engagement and minimise barriers to entry, as evidenced by:

• We have significantly widened our ensembles’ geographic presence within the borough over the last 2 years to include Wembley Park and Harlesden

• We have doubled the number of active scholars over the last 3 years

• We have significantly increased the number of FSM subsidy payments for lessons and for hire

• We support agreed flexible payments by parents

• We systematically collect and review available diversity and inclusion data for pupils

• We support schools financially where this becomes a barrier to their pupils engaging in quality music activities

• We have engaged a specialist SEN music teacher who is now working in almost all the special schools in Brent with active conversations to start working with the remainder.

• Remissions Policy

Workforce

The hub takes take all possible measures to encourage applications as widely as possible and selects the most capable/most suitable candidate(s) for the relevant assignment(s)/role(s). The two-stage recruitment process includes a less-formal conversation on Zoom to give all candidates the best opportunity to show their strengths and what they have to offer. This initial conversation also seeks to identify any potential or perceived barriers for each candidate and explore with and re-assure candidates around flexibility and remove concerns where possible around potential perceived issues/barriers. Whilst BMS has some minimum requirements for some roles, we seek to recruit people who have the willingness and ability to learn and join a wider team/network. Positive energy, enthusiasm and willingness to learn and engage are critically valued attributes.

Since 2021, all new staff recruitment includes systematic capture of diversity and inclusion indicators. We are currently working to determine how to capture these indicators in an appropriate way for existing hub staff.

Current 23/24 SMART Targets directly linked to EDI

• Working with the Brent LCEP to create opportunities for young people to gain experience in the cultural industries

• To develop a BMS Steelband in the Harlesden area which is accessible and the next step in progression for those learning in primary schools.

• To further develop the Scholarship programme including securing alternative funding for Scholarships currently funded by John Lyons for September 2023

• Developing work with new role of SEND coordinator in Special schools, mainstream schools and BMS Ensembles 

• Continue to develop projects with partner organisations which bring in additional funding and support delivery of high quality programmes in schools and with BMS ensembles

• Develop the youth voice/young leader programmes and embed into BMS direct delivery

• Ensure continued affordability and accessibility of BMS Ensembles

1. The Youth Music self-assessment tool identifies that we still have some way to go to embed EDI practices across all areas of the organisation. 

2. The Youth Music Funded Inclusion Project in 2019-2012 findings and recommendations can be found here. 

3. BMS is actively widening remissions in partnership with schools

4. Current SEN offerings:

a.    SEN Coordinator in post

b.     Boom Band - Inclusive Ensemble - Pilot project delivered with RPO funded by John Lyon's Charity. Actively seeking funding for development. 

c.     Schools - delivery in Special Schools, working with SEND children in mainstream 

d.     Music'sCool staff receiving training in inclusion and differentiation

5. BMS SLT will look to undertake a review of progress made towards SMART targets in relation to EDI and use the Youth Music tool to re-evalute in Summer 2024.