New head for Birmingham’s music service

A specialist leader of education for music and an assistant headteacher – who started his musical journey as a young chorister - has been appointed Head of the Music Service at Birmingham-based Services For Education.

In his new role, Richard Mabbott (pictured) will be responsible for the Music Service’s work in Birmingham that each year teaches music to nearly 32,000 children supporting 98 per cent of the city’s schools – as well as running 113 free ensembles, providing 27,000 musical instruments free-of-charge and staging concerts and performances.

A former choral scholar, Richard joins Services for Education after 15 years working in secondary schools having started his career as a classroom teacher in an inner-city school in Sheffield, before becoming Head of Music at Hessle High School in East Yorkshire in 2011.

Whilst there, he became specialist leader of education for music working with schools in Yorkshire and Humber region to enhance the classroom music offer and build networks of music teachers enabling pedagogical developments and performance opportunities to be shared more readily.

In 2019 Richard was appointed assistant headteacher at Withernsea High School as part of a small senior team to deliver improvement to enhance the life chances of the school’s students.

 Amongst his achievements was the development of the much praised ‘Classically Yours’ programme with Manchester Camerata - a project that brought a world class orchestra to perform an annual concert in a remote East Yorkshire school and which continues to this day.

Richard said: “Giving young people opportunities through music and the arts is crucial to their development - not just academically but also from the perspective of both the personal skills and the resilience it develops within them.

“It is these opportunities that I have championed throughout my career to enable students of all backgrounds to know that music is not the preserve of the few but an experience that should be shared by all,” said Richard who undertook a Bachelor of Music degree at Hull University where he specialised in singing and conducting.

“I am looking forward to working with Services For Education’s senior leadership, our 180-music staff and also the School Support team who deliver training and expertise to schools nationwide.

“It is no secret that music and the arts provision in schools has been squeezed in the last decade. Services For Education’s Music Service has bucked that trend growing exponentially over the last five years.  It’s important for all of us to realise is that there is a musical spark in every child we encounter, and as teachers we must be brave enough to put the ego aside and enable opportunities for each child to find their way.

“I’m proud to have been shown aspects of music by students that I would have overlooked and to now bring my recent school leadership experience to work alongside our fantastic team in Birmingham. Our goal is to enable music provision to develop further and continue to provide musical outlets for the next generation of Birmingham musicians.”