Rock star’s music curriculum inspires London students to attend school. Guitarist and actor Stevie Van Zandt’s TeachRock Programme used in schools in The Beckmead Trust for two years now

Stevie Van Zandt, legendary guitarist in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band and star of multi-award-winning TV series The Sopranos, visited two special schools in Croydon, south London, to hear how his TeachRock curriculum has inspired vulnerable students to engage in education.
TeachRock was launched in 2002 by Steven with the Founders Board of Bono, Jackson Browne, Martin Scorsese and Bruce Springsteen.
The initiative is an open resource of hundreds of meaningful lesson plans which bring the sound, stories and science of music to classrooms, aiming to engage children and young people with their learning and provide them with a high-quality music education.

Since 2022, The Beckmead Trust has built a close and successful partnership with TeachRock. Beckmead is a high-performing academy trust which provides exceptional education for children and young people with complex needs across 10 schools in London, Essex and Sussex. By 2025, Beckmead will educate and care for 1,400 children, 80 of them in residential places.

Beckmead approached TeachRock after attendance at its schools, already a particular challenge among the vulnerable children and young people it supports, failed to recover post-Covid.

Staff at Beckmead adapted TeachRock’s teaching materials so that they best meet the needs of the disadvantaged children and young people in Beckmead’s settings. To date, students at Beckmead have been taught various TeachRock lessons, carried out practical music work, and have completed enrichment weeks.

Globally, TeachRock has helped reduce chronic school absenteeism by 8% and suspensions by 21%, while more than 90% of teachers using the programme have reported greater enthusiasm for learning among students.

The two Beckmead schools visited by Stevie Van Zandt are Beckmead College and Chaffinch Brook, both in Croydon (please see notes to editors for more information).

Dr Jonty Clark OBE, Chief Executive Officer of The Beckmead Trust, said:

“Beckmead specialises in working with children and young people identified as having social, emotional and mental health issues, autism and challenging behaviour. While we provide them with excellent education and care, it is also critical that we first engage them to attend. The TeachRock programme we have adapted has been one of the ways we have done that since the pandemic and it’s proved hugely successful.

“Additionally, research has shown that music plays a key role in supporting brain development – language, motor skills, social collaboration skills and emotional intelligence are all improved.

“TeachRock has already delivered excellent results across our schools, including an increase in student attendance and an improvement in positive attitudes, self-expression and confidence. We’re hugely grateful to Stevie and the TeachRock team for the resources they provide to help the children and young people in our schools, and are delighted they visited us to hear first hand how successful the programme has been.”

Stevie Van Zandt said:

“Whenever I visit a school using our curriculum I’m struck by the enthusiasm of the teachers and students. I don’t remember anything like that during my school years. It’s wonderful seeing the teachers’ creativity come to life as they adapt each lesson plan in their own unique way to achieve the outcomes they need for their classroom. 

“We designed this material with US schools in mind, knowing full well that it would ultimately help the whole world. What I saw today at Beckmead is inspiring proof that our concept – that music is a common ground at which we can meet and engage every student – is universal.

“Mainstream education wasn’t working for these students, but they’re thriving here at Beckmead because they feel seen, heard, and empowered by what’s happening in their classrooms. We’re honoured to be contributing to that success.”

To find out more about the TeachRock Programme, visit here…

Written by Theatrefullstop