Case studies › Little Horsted
One day that started a partnership
A whole-school 'Play in a Day' with three tutors, ending with every pupil performing together. Weekly lessons for the children who need them most started the next day.
Whole-school day · First stepLittle Horsted CE Primary School, near Uckfield · November 2025
What we did
We met Little Horsted's headteacher in spring 2025. Rather than start with a long programme, we proposed a single day for the whole school. On 13 November 2025 three tutors from Red Butler Music School and Beautiful Noise ran a 'Play in a Day'. Pupils in Years 1 to 6, in six groups of about 15, rotated through three workshops: percussion, pitched instruments (glockenspiels, ukuleles, keyboards and guitars) and singing. In the afternoon the whole school, with Reception joining the chorus, rehearsed and performed Bob Marley's 'Three Little Birds' together. The day was funded by Beautiful Noise.
Why
The school wanted a stronger music culture, firmer foundations in music for its pupils, and more confident teachers. A single day lets pupils, staff and tutors try music-making together before anyone commits to more, and it shows where help is most needed. It is now the usual first step in a Future Sounds partnership, and several more are planned in the coming months.
Impact
Tutors reported very high enthusiasm across the school and a sense that music-making on this scale was new for many pupils. By the end of the day some pupils were playing chords and singing at the same time. The day also showed where help was needed: many pupils found it hard to count in or keep a steady pulse. Small-group guitar lessons for children with SEND began the next day. The tutor found the pupils arrived confident because of the day before, every one of them asked to carry on, and one child who staff expected to be shy chose to play songs to the group. Within a year the partnership had grown to Seedlings lessons (seven or eight pupils a week by summer 2026, nine places in 2026/27), Studio Ninja digital music sessions (six to eight pupils a week), and support for the school's music lead.