At Out of the Ark Music we’ve had the privilege of partnering with SCITTELS (School Centred Initial Teacher Training East London Schools), an outstanding-rated provider, to deliver music training to trainee teachers. We recently caught up with Renuka Sivakumaran, Curriculum Lead at SCITTELS, to talk about the consortium’s ethos, how they work with music, and the challenges facing new teachers.

Tell us about SCITTELS and the range of courses you offer.

‘SCITTELS is based in East London, and we specialise in training primary teachers. Our mission is to develop excellent teachers who can deliver high-quality, inclusive learning experiences to the diverse children of this area. We offer a range of postgraduate courses, including QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) and a PGCE with QTS. We’re also coming to the end of our undergraduate courses and are starting to offer apprenticeships.’

What do you love most about your role, and what’s the hardest part?

‘I love working with people right at the start of their teaching career. There’s something really special about helping to shape teachers who are fun, caring, thoughtful, creative, and inclusive. I also enjoy designing a curriculum that meets both local and national needs. The hardest part is probably ensuring that we are always preparing trainees for the full range of challenges they’ll face in schools.’

Why do you choose to work with Out of the Ark Music?

‘We were really impressed by Out of the Ark's holistic approach, which is strongly rooted in evidence. It was clear from the beginning that you believe in the transformative power of music in children’s lives, which aligns with our own commitment to diversity, inclusion, and creativity in the classroom.’

How does the music training complement your curriculum at SCITTELS?

‘Music fits beautifully with our ethos of promoting diversity and inclusion. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate different cultures, languages and identities within our classrooms. Music offers an inclusive medium that everyone can connect to.’

What advice would you give to teachers who feel terrified of singing or delivering music activities?

‘Children pick up on how you feel about a subject, so my advice is to fake it ’til you make it! If you’re really worried about singing on your own, practise until you feel more confident. And if the idea of singing still terrifies you, find workarounds like speaking through the lyrics in rhythm or using recorded tracks to introduce the melody.’

How does Sparkyard support trainee teachers?

‘Sparkyard is a fantastic resource. It’s really easy to navigate, and the range of ready-to-use resources makes it simple for trainees to integrate music into their lessons. There’s a strong evidence base behind the material, which means trainees can trust it’s going to have a positive impact on their teaching.’

What sort of content do you think Sparkyard should include to support trainees and ECTs (Early Career Teachers)?

‘You’ve already got it! Sparkyard is user-friendly, and the resources are incredibly practical. The fact that you can search by age range and topic makes it easy for trainees and ECTs to find exactly what they need, quickly. This makes them feel more confident in delivering music across the curriculum.’

Why is music and creativity so important in the curriculum?

‘Music has a huge impact on children’s wellbeing and mental health. It sparks creativity, which is a fundamental part of being human. Whether we’re seeking comfort, inspiration or joy, we often turn to art and music. Exposing children to a rich variety of music early on helps to inspire and nurture their own creative interests.’

Can you share any examples of trainee teachers using music to enrich their classroom practice?

‘We’ve seen trainees using music to manage classroom transitions and behaviour really effectively. It helps children feel calm, regulated and ready to follow routines. Trainees have also used songs to support learning in other areas, like helping children memorise historical facts or learn their times tables.’

How does Out of the Ark Music’s approach to training align with SCITTELS?

‘Your approach is grounded in cognitive science, wellbeing and inclusion, which mirrors our own values at SCITTELS. The emphasis on diversity and creativity is also a strong connection. It’s a great match!’

To what extent can music help trainee teachers gain confidence in other areas of the curriculum?

‘There are lovely links between music and other subjects, like maths, where music can help children grasp concepts such as patterns and fractions. Sparkyard has fantastic songs that support retention of key facts across various subjects. Music can also be a powerful tool in behaviour management. Once trainees get this right, it gives them the confidence to take bigger risks in their teaching.’

What are the biggest challenges facing trainee teachers?

‘The political landscape, particularly cuts to arts funding, creates real challenges. Schools often have limited budgets, which means fewer resources and support staff. Unfortunately, this can lead to fewer opportunities for trainees to develop their music-teaching skills. Once they’re in their ECT years, the focus tends to shift more towards English and maths, which means music can fall by the wayside. If they don’t get the chance to teach music, they can lose confidence and become deskilled.

Music and creativity are critical in shaping well-rounded, engaged learners. At SCITTELS, we’re committed to ensuring our trainees leave feeling equipped to bring the power of music into their classrooms -because we’ve seen first-hand how transformative it can be. With the support of resources like Sparkyard, we believe teachers can confidently deliver high-quality music education, no matter their experience level.’

 

For more information about how Out of the Ark Music can support your music teaching, visit Sparkyard and explore the range of resources we offer. If you haven’t already got a subscription, consider taking a free 30-day trial and explore it all for yourself.