Nottingham, a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage, unfortunately, faces a pressing issue: it has one of the highest expulsion rates in the UK. Despite its many strengths, this alarming statistic highlights the challenges that students in the Nottingham area encounter daily.
What is the problem?
- Nationally, there are 6 permanent exclusions per 10,000 pupils.
- In the East Midlands, over 2,500 students were permanently excluded in the last year alone.
- The rate of exclusions has risen from 1.83% in 2019 to 3.85% in 2023 in the East Midlands.
- Nottingham ranks fifth in the UK for the highest rates of exclusions and suspensions.
The primary reasons for exclusions in the East Midlands include:
- Persistent disruption, accounting for 33% of exclusions.
- Physical assaults on other pupils, responsible for 16%.
- Verbal assaults on adults, making up 12%.
What is our solution?
- Innovative Music Education Programs: Integrating music into the curriculum to engage excluded students more effectively.
- Creative Learning Opportunities: Offering alternative learning methods to traditional classroom settings, which helps reduce disruptive behavior.
- Building Engagement and Behaviour: Using music as a tool to improve student engagement and behaviour, directly tackling the primary reasons for exclusions such as disruptions and verbal assaults.
- RSL-accredited courses that not only educate but acredit students building confidence and knowledge to the next stage of their lives.
- Re-introduction: when possible our goal is to re-introduce students to mainstream education.
A Preventative Provision
- Graduated Response Plan: Partnering with schools to reduce the exclusion rate by working through our graduated response plan.
- Assess Plan Do Review: A four step approach to keep students in the educations system.
- Music Will Make A Difference: Whether we acknowledge it or not music changes our moods, lives and potential. Bringing education to students without them knowing they're learning is cruicial.
Our Story:
Fast Forward Music, led by three former International DJ's and producers, is poised to revolutionise the education scene. With extensive experience in global touring, remixing tracks, managing record labels, and organising club nights worldwide, our team brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Notably, we boast 20 years of teaching experience in DJ and Music Production.
Ready to join us in transforming the lives of youth who are struggling or facing exclusion from the mainstream education system? We're here to unleash passion, confidence, and vital life skills, equipping our youth with qualifications and the belief in their own potential. Our environment fosters a unique outlook, empowering individuals to thrive in an ever-changing world, regardless of learning disabilities. We're dedicated to promoting positive attitudes, mutual respect, and cultural diversity, drawing from our rich experiences in the alternative and multicultural industry.
Our RSL-accredited courses offer a range of options, including "Level 1 In The Creative Industry," covering DJ/Turntablism, Music Production, Songwriting, Vocal Recording, and Event Planning. Our tutors incorporate subtle Math and English concepts into the curriculum, alongside ample IT exposure through software and synthesisers.
Recognising the importance of downtime, we provide an activities room for incentives and bonding time. For students from disadvantaged backgrounds, we offer breakfast and dinner, ensuring they're focused and settled for their tasks.
Take Our AP Full Time:
Our mission is clear: to foster academic and personal growth for all students by nurturing their creativity and providing diverse opportunities for success. This needs to be a full time effort so we overcome the challenges students face, and we believe in the transformative power of creativity.
By offering cool off days in the form of fully accredited RSL courses in the creative industry, such as music production and DJ'ing, we aim to not only foster artistic talent but also to build crucial life skills.
We're a fully accredited provision that is able to provide proof of learning and understanding for future career paths and oppurtunities.
Join us at Fast Forward as we pave the way for a brighter future, where every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of young people in our community.
Meet our visionary founders:
Steve, was took out of school at the age of 14, complete with social worker, on the home schooling program, he pursued his DJ dreams from a young age, establishing his own record label and enjoying an international DJ career.
Chris found his musical passion in Prague and became one of Nottingham's leading music production/DJ teachers, dedicated to guiding the next generation and is still DJ'ing to this day.
Scott, known for stellar productions and DJ sets in Australia, spread his musical wings to build a life in Canada while overseeing his record label and refining his unique sound.
Music has shaped our lives profoundly, driving us to empower youth with the tools, vitality, and passion needed to succeed. Join us in this transformative journey!
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