Rocksteady Music School Launch New National Music Qualification

4 in 5 Parents Say the Pandemic has Changed Their Way of Looking at Schooling and Assessments for Their Children – @RSMusicSchool 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, new research reveals that 78% of primary school parents have changed their way of looking at schooling and assessments for their children with many parents (65%) now worried about the impact of exam pressure on their child’s mental health.

79% of parents think that the current school examination process could be updated to be more dynamic and innovative to suit each child’s individual way of learning while 91% say that studying Music from a young age can have a positive impact on a child’s confidence, happiness and overall well-being. 

The new research commissioned by Rocksteady, the country’s largest independent music school for 4-11 year-olds, shows that going forward 87% of parents would prefer to know about their child’s progress continually throughout the year. 

Rocksteady Music School is delivering a brand new, progressive style of music qualifications for primary age children of all backgrounds. The new Ofqual regulated qualification involves observing skills as they are being performed in lessons and unlocking the qualification using technology once a threshold number of skills have been observed. 

The innovative new approach combines Rocksteady‘s progressive and inclusive teaching methods and a brand new forward thinking qualification awarded by Trinity College London, who share many of the same values and vision around giving children, regardless of their backgrounds or starting point, the opportunity to experience the life enhancing benefits of playing music.  

Mark Robinson, Founder of Rocksteady comments: “Rocksteady’s innovative teaching methods make gaining a music qualification more accessible and inclusive.  Children can focus on learning, having fun and engaging positively whilst being fully supported by Rocksteady’s technology, systems and processes.  

“For some children the pressure surrounding traditional exams can be a significant barrier to both learning and enjoyment. Our new and progressive method, awarded by Trinity College London, allows more children to gain a qualification in music. It opens up music to a new generation of children who can enjoy learning and developing without the fear of failure.”

Nik Preston – Group Director at Trinity College London, adds:

“With the advancements of modern music education in a band setting continuing at pace, and with forward thinking, accessible providers such as Rocksteady ensuring increased opportunity across a diverse section of the schools’ sector, Trinity are delighted to have developed this new qualification designed to support inclusive, group based learning and skills development.”

Rocksteady’s findings follow a warning from the UK’s Music Chief Executive that the 2021 A-level and GCSE results revealed an urgent need to “support and grow ” music education in schools. Although there is a decline in pupils taking exams, four in five (75%) parents would like their child to take Music at GCSE or A-Level.  In addition, 79% of parents would like their child to play a musical instrument. 

Robinson adds: “We know just how important music is to children, last year a staggering 90% of parents told us that Rocksteady lessons were supporting their child’s wellbeing and helping them adjust back to normal school life, so it’s now more important than ever that we make music education work for every child.”