Courageous Creativity in KS3-5 – Supporting a diverse and inclusive approach to curriculum design

This session is designed for secondary music educators eager to challenge the status quo and place inclusion at the heart of their curriculum.

Participants will explore practical strategies for diversifying repertoire, elevating underrepresented voices, and adopting innovative teaching methods that resonate with today’s diverse student populations.

Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to foster equity and representation in their classrooms while empowering students to embrace courageous creativity.

• This workshop is available to attend in session 2 only

Empower creativity through inclusion:

• Diversify your repertoire – Learn how to introduce music that represents a wide range of voices and cultures.
• Foster equity and representation – Discover how to create a curriculum that reflects the diversity of your student body.
• Inspire courageous creativity – Equip students with the confidence to express themselves through innovative musical exploration.

Book your place at the conference

Secure a place now at this session by booking a place at the conference for you and/or your colleagues. Bookings are handled by Music Mark through the link below.

Samantha Stimpson

Samantha StimpsonSamantha Stimpson B.Ed. MA (she/her), is a multi-award-winning consultant and the founder and CEO of SLS 360, an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) consultancy. Through her leadership, SLS 360 supports, challenges, and empowers individuals and organisations to confront injustice, eliminate discrimination, and drive meaningful, positive change.

Samantha is a school governor, a trustee for the charity Sound Connections and a classically trained musician (viola, violin and piano). Having faced many obstacles on her journey due to her identity, she is committed to increasing representation across all musical genres, particularly classical music, ensuring that children and young people of colour are not marginalised or seen as “the only one” in these spaces.

SLS 360 has worked with over 150 organisations across the UK and globally, ranging from grassroots groups to large public and private sector corporations. Their research underscores the critical role of representation, authentic recruitment, and inclusive cultures in fostering environments where diversity is valued, and trust and respect are foundational. Their work demonstrates that successful organisations are built on inclusive cultures where everyone can thrive.

Samantha is a passionate advocate for all forms of social justice driven by a mission to empower individuals and organisations to disrupt the status quo and embed the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything they do.