Collecting data to I can help to make music education more inclusive

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QX2GRVH

Question

One size doesn't fit all (plus a chance to have your say)

School was tough for me, as it was for many people, especially neurodivergent students. In public schools, everybody is expected to carry out the same curriculum, and cram as much information, in as little time as possible. Teachers are under pressure to make sure that all students achieve what the government wants them to achieve. This means that they have a tough job ahead of them, with extra stress around exam time. In a world of league tables, there's no room for individuality.

However, this means that some students get left behind. No matter how many ways a teacher wants to approach a subject, there just isn't enough time in the year to do that for every topic. For me, it was maths. I really struggled and no matter how many times I parroted the times tables, I could not do the sums on command. I remember vividly feeling awful in secondary school because I couldn't answer 20 questions of mental 3 times tables in under 30 seconds. Yes, most students could do that at 11, easily, but not me. With a lot of practice and an amazing teacher during my GCSEs, I was able to become more confident with maths, and actually pretty good at it.

Being able to learn in a way that works for you makes such a difference. I will always remember exactly how the Roman spear was constructed and their battle tactics. Why? We acted out the tortoise shell formation and the teacher drew the diagram of the spear on the board. I was terrified of that teacher, but those two lessons I will always remember in a positive light.

So, why am I talking about this today? I want to create a section of this website full of various music resources at different levels, inclusive to those who are neurodiverse, for teachers and home educators to use. I'm only one person and for this to work, I need to hear as many voices as possible with their own experiences of education and what learning techniques are useful to them. To gather this information, I have created a survey that will help me to then create material that is inclusive to all learners.

I'd be so grateful to hear from you. Please use the link above to have your say!