Music Stuff Education

Music Stuff is a (secondary) independent school based in Manchester. Music Stuff Education operates as an alternative education provider, providing educational services for pupils on role with Manchester Secondary PRU. We tailor our educational provision, towards pupils who have been excluded, or are at the risk of being permanently excluded from mainstream schooling.

The philosophy driving music stuff is one of dedication to development of human potential as a way of increasing a sense of personal identity, self-belief and confidence, as well as providing access to new experiences and knowledge. Music Stuff believes that fear of failure and some negative life patterns can stop young people achieving to their full potential and by finding ways to break destructive patterns young people will experience raised self-esteem and increased aspirations, and they will develop a stronger sense of identity and personal pride.

Music Stuff is an alternative education provider which specialises in educating disengaged young people throughout Greater Manchester.For the past fifteen years Music Stuff has delivered Music and Multi-Media based Vocational programmes to suit the needs of Manchester's youth community.We believe that school can be enjoyable.Therefore we promote fun, inclusion, and teamwork in our school.

Taking this expertise, whilst fostering our inclusive approach, we transitioned into an independent school in 2011 and have since seen expediential progress and growth.We pride ourselves on supporting vulnerable young people through their secondary academic studies. It is a great honour to support all of our academic community in embracing our school philosophy.

It is the firm belief of all staff that any young person is capable of succeeding if given the time, support and resources to do so. Within the past 5 years we have celebrated multiple successes; we continue to enjoy sharing positive results and successful progressions with pupils who assumed they would be destined for failure.

We recognise that our mission is constantly evolving so we will continue to advance our practices, team and resources to best support the young people we educate. Going forward we will ensure we continue to offer relevant qualifications, inclusive learning and unique interventions to develop lifelong learners who are respectable, employable and happy citizens of the community.The philosophy for Music Stuff is one of dedication to development of human potential as a way of increasing a sense of personal identity, self-belief, and confidence, as well as providing access to new experiences and knowledge. Music Stuff believes that fear of failure and some negative life patterns can stop young people achieving their full potential, and by finding ways to break destructive patterns, young people will experience raised self-esteem, increased aspirations, and develop a stronger sense of identity and personal pride.

All pupils are (exclusively) referred from Manchester Secondary Pupil Referral Unit (PRU).Music Stuff works in partnership with Manchester Secondary PRU to deliver a bespoke education to meet the needs of a diverse range of pupils. Additionally, Music Stuff supports Manchester Secondary PRU in collaborative workings with a number of secondary schools throughout Manchester.All pupils are either (solely) on roll with the Manchester Secondary PRU as they have been permanently excluded (PX), or, dual rolled with Manchester Secondary PRU and a Manchester secondary high school; being referred to Manchester Secondary PRU as an alternate to permanent exclusion (APX).

All governors are members of at least one of these committees. These sub-committees report back to the full governing body at each full meeting to keep everyone informed.The Governing Body committees meet regularly. In this way, all aspects of school life are scrutinised by the governors of the school and are able to act as a ‘critical friend to the Principal and staff of the school.Some of the policies were developed by Manchester Secondary PRU, however they still extend to all staff within Music Stuff Education.

As such, all young people are designated on the MSPRU’s SEND Register of Additional Needs as being at the second tier of provision, known as SEN Support. This listing sits alongside a basic outline of the nature of their needs. The nature of such needs typically come under the umbrella term Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs but often will also include Cognition and Learning Needs, which range from moderate learning difficulties to specific learning needs, such as Dyslexia or Communication and Interaction Needs, which require specialist advice and/ or input. Some young people may also have Physical and Medical Needs, including hearing and visual impairments.

A young person experiencing significant difficulties following instructions and managing everyday routines or maintaining attention to age appropriate tasks without additional support; A young person experiencing a lot of difficulties in understanding everyday conversation, inference and more complex ideas and/ or struggling to make their needs known using language; A young person may have access to specialist assessment and advice from specialist services such as SALT, specialist outreach or an Educational Psychologist to inform programmes and activities to develop the young person’s social skills.