External evaluator

Description

We are looking for a highly skilled External Evaluator to join our team on a temporary basis. The role will be working with our APS Music programme in Gloucestershire. We’re particular keen to hear from those who have worked around music and APS or similar and especially with diverse and marginalised groups to evaluate an ambitious new R&D programme funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.  

The project is part of an established creative programme of community and educational work in music that reaches around 3000 young people each year to support their personal, social, emotional and musical development. 

The role of the External Evaluator is to evaluate the project in line with The Music Works’ evaluation requirements. This includes conducting interviews, collating/analysing information and writing evaluation reports. This is a freelance contract and spreads over approximately 18 days across the 20-month project period.

There is a parallel role for the development of a theory of change, and we’re happy to consider candidates who would like to deliver either one of the strands or to deliver both. The role will require travel in and around Gloucestershire to face to face meetings as well as some online meetings and workshops.  

Project Aims

• Position music as an integral part of personal, social, and academic development in all five of the AP settings in Gloucestershire (content/intention) 
• Ensure the entitlement of access to music for all students in APS. 
• To Build a new and sustainable model for children and young people-centred music leadership in AP settings in Gloucestershire (structure) 

Project objectives

• Set up a Steering Group comprising a school leader and a teacher from each of the AP settings, two experienced Music Leaders, two youth advocates attending AP, Ben O’Sullivan TMW Creative Director
• Develop Theory of Change, co-constructed with staff, pupils, music leaders to inform project development.
• Music will be embedded structurally into both the timetable and the curriculum offer. Cross curricular links will embed music into curriculum planning and teaching and learning approaches. 
• Music-based mentoring will be embedded into the pedagogy of AP settings and over two years of co-planning and delivery both Music Leaders and AP staff will develop new knowledge and skills which will become embedded into their practice. 
• At a strategic level both TMW and the Local Education Authority are ambitious to develop a music entitlement for AP students. The LEA is running a new AP curriculum project and has invited TMW to sit on the project group to offer expert input around music and arts provision.
• Commission an external evaluation partner.