We’re delighted to share details of the highly successful Music Development Day 2025 on Wednesday 2nd July 2025 which runs in partnership with Hertfordshire Music Service.
Prominent keynote speakers including composer, teacher and award-winning business owner Rachel Shapey, will be joining us at the Mid-Herts Centre for Music and Arts in Hatfield to share practical insights and techniques that can be immediately applied back in the classroom.
Explore the agenda which has been crafted to address the identified priorities for both primary and secondary schools and was designed based on feedback from our surveys and network meetings.
This is an unmissable event for music leaders and teachers who will benefit from a full day of face-to-face CPD dedicated to enhancing your skills in composition.
Tickets cost £50 +VAT per delegate (usual price £190 however, Hertfordshire Music Service has subsidised £140 per Hertfordshire maintained school delegate).
To find out more and book your place:
Meet our speakers
Rachel Shapey
Rachel Shapey is a music educator, composer, and author of two books “How to Teach Composition in the Secondary Classroom” and “Listen & Celebrate KS3” (HarperCollins). Rachel is passionate about supporting teachers and students around the world with composing in the classroom and delivers engaging, practical sessions with tried-and-tested ideas and approaches for teachers to use straight away.
Workshop sessions
Sarah Todd - Early Years
Sarah is a classically trained musician, jazz saxophonist and Music Subject Lead of an infant and nursery school. Sarah has partnered with local creatives to plan and deliver a comprehensive and sustainable curriculum built upon an equitable ethos of 'music for all' that span the infant school's nursery, reception and Key Stage 1 classes.
Tom Robinson - Early Years
With ten years of teaching experience, Tom is currently an Assistant Head (EYFS) at an infant and nursery school in Stevenage as well as being a talented guitarist. He excels at bringing music into the fabric of the school as well as utilising different musical ideas to contribute to the emotional wellbeing of pupils.
Matthew Dear - SEND
Matthew has worked extensively with children with SEN, both within Herts Music Service (HMS), for national music charities and an Early Years centre for children with autism. He is the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Development Lead for HMS.
He teaches at The Valley School, Stevenage, developing students musically and to help them develop social and communication skills and confidence.
Kirsty Allman-Ward - KS1
Kirsty is a highly experienced primary music teacher, specialist, and consultant whose passion is enabling teachers deliver outstanding primary curriculum music. She is an advocate for the value that a high-quality primary music provision can bring to each child, school and its community. Kirsty established ‘Primary Music Matters’ to support the workforce empowering confidence, knowledge, and enjoyment in teaching music.
Caz Wolfson - KS1 and KS2
Caz is a percussionist, music educator and passionate advocate for inclusive music-making. She has been teaching music for over twenty years, across sectors, engaging with participants aged 3 – 90. As a Regional Music Development Lead for HMS, Caz regularly delivers staff CPD sessions for schools and HMS teachers to help increase confidence in teaching composition, notation and rhythm.
Sally Nicholson - Secondary workshop - embedding creativity in composing - KS1 to KS3
Sally is Faculty Leader for Creative and Performing Arts and Subject Lead for Music at Haileybury Turnford school, where she has been for 13 years. Having recently completed the Listen Imagine Compose MA in Music Education with Birmingham City University, Sally is now a doctoral student with the University studying what progress in composing looks like at Key Stage 4.
Tor Cooper - Beating composer's block with exam classes
Tor will be looking at a range of ideas to get KS4 and KS5 students off the starting blocks with their composition coursework, and how to use planning and guide tracks to stop them getting stuck.
