Bournemouth and Poole College and the Wessex Youth Orchestra: uncomfortable evidence (3: perceived bullying and an unhealthy culture at WYO)

(Post made at 0840 GMT on 9 Dec 2018 in a personal capacity. Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). This is a follow up to this post. This is another part of the evidence that I presented to the College and the “Independent Investigator” during my formal complaint of May 2017. Evidence which … Continue reading Bournemouth and Poole College and the Wessex Youth Orchestra: uncomfortable evidence (3: perceived bullying and an unhealthy culture at WYO) →

The parents did everything possible – but the Wessex Youth Orchestra and Bournemouth and Poole College let their child down badly

(Post made at 1234 GMT on 10 Nov 2018 in a personal capacity. Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). This is a follow up to this post. I cried when I read the email turning down the child's application to join the WYO Shortly after finding out that the family were leaving the … Continue reading The parents did everything possible – but the Wessex Youth Orchestra and Bournemouth and Poole College let their child down badly →

Bournemouth and Poole College and the Wessex Youth Orchestra: uncomfortable evidence (2: very insensitive treatment of disabled pupil & family)

(Post made at 1150 GMT on 10 Nov 2018 in a personal capacity. Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). This is a follow up to this post. This is just part of the evidence that I presented to the College and the “Independent Investigator” during my formal complaint of May 2017. Evidence which … Continue reading Bournemouth and Poole College and the Wessex Youth Orchestra: uncomfortable evidence (2: very insensitive treatment of disabled pupil & family) →

Some great festive music, bringing back some very fond memories

(Post made at 1950 UK time on 29 Dec 2017 in a personal capacity. Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). Over the last few days I have really enjoyed listening to some wonderful festive music, some of which also brought back very fond memories! I remember really enjoying playing flute in a performance of Vivaldi's Gloria … Continue reading Some great festive music, bringing back some very fond memories →

Just a few reasons why music (and particularly group music) is so important in education

(Post made at 1220 UK time on 28 Dec 2017 in a personal capacity. Please see here for important background and disclosure of interests). In today's world in which very many children have a very short attention span and very often call out/take a sip from a water bottle, taking part in a group musical activity (such as … Continue reading Just a few reasons why music (and particularly group music) is so important in education →