Local schools trust the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust (DMAT) has partnered with national music charity Voices Foundation to develop a new music curriculum for pupils, staff and school communities.

All 14 of DMAT’s primary schools, in the Okehampton area, will be involved in the project and musicians from the Voices Foundation will work with classroom teachers to give them the musical skills, knowledge and confidence to give the children high-quality music lessons through singing practice.

Manvinder Rattan, CEO of The Voices Foundation said: ‘I am delighted that we will be working with Dartmoor MAT to help support musical development for their teachers and through them many pupils at their schools.

‘We know that covid has had adverse effects on so many aspects of school life, not least the well-being of children and we also know that singing not only helps improve well-being but also has a positive impact on attainment levels across the curriculum. I look forward to seeing the pupils of Dartmoor enjoying the benefits of all that in due course.’

The programme will run across the academic year and will end with a concert at the end of the summer term.

Veronica Lloyd Richards, associate executive director of schools for Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust said: ‘We are truly excited to begin work with the Voices Foundation and support the positive impact it will have across all our primary schools.

’Our trust is bursting with creativity and talent, and we believe that every student should have the chance to express themselves through singing and experience the joy of making music together.’

The Voices Foundation was established in 1993 and works with schools across the UK to establish effective music education.