Helping young voices be heard: Monkwearmouth’s arts programme breaks down barriers
Bridging the Gap Performing Arts Journey - Monkwearmouth Academy
Monkwearmouth Academy in Sunderland is embarking on a transformative new programme to boost student confidence, aspiration, and engagement through the performing arts, thanks to £210,200 of funding from SHINE.
The Bridging the Gap Performing Arts Journey will connect students across five primary feeder schools with Monkwearmouth Academy.
Through a new performing arts curriculum, the project aims to ease the often-difficult move to secondary school. It will also help children find their voices through drama, music, and media, and improve their social and emotional development.
Since the pandemic, in common with many schools, Monkwearmouth Academy has seen a rise in the number of students struggling to attend school and increasing issues with their mental health. There has also been a decline in literacy levels, making it harder for children to succeed at school.
“In recent years, we’ve seen a rise in students lacking confidence and struggling with speaking and listening skills,” explains project lead Narinder Sandhu, Deputy Headteacher at Monkwearmouth.
“There are also problems with attendance. It often starts well when students first join the school but then dips as students find it harder to engage. This project is about reversing that trend.”
The project, which will be delivered in a brand-new £600,000 performing arts facility part-funded by the Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust, will give students the chance to explore the performing arts in a professional-standard space.
“It’s about preparing students not just for school but for life,” says Narinder. “Performing arts gives them skills they’ll need in interviews, in presentations, and in building relationships. It’s about teaching them to speak up, to be heard, and to be confident.”
As part of the initiative, students from Years 4–6 in local primary schools will visit Monkwearmouth regularly to take part in drama, music, and media sessions, delivered by the same teachers they’ll work with at secondary school. The project also promotes inclusivity and supports the wider curriculum offer. “That familiarity is key,” says Narinder. “It helps alleviate that anxiety and gives them confidence, reducing some of the stresses of moving to secondary.”
The Bridging the Gap programme also aims to align students’ learning with future careers in the North East’s growing creative economy. With the proposed Crown Works Studios in Sunderland set to generate over 8,000 jobs in the region, the project highlights real-world opportunities in arts and media.
“This is more than just performance,” Narinder Sandhu explains. “It’s about helping young people see that there are exciting, accessible careers out there, and that the skills they learn now can take them far.”
The SHINE funding also enables Monkwearmouth to break down key barriers, including transportation. The school will hire minibuses to ensure all students can access the new curriculum. It also funds Professional Development and joint planning sessions for primary and secondary staff, so the curriculum is consistent and truly collaborative.
“This funding is the icing on the cake,” says Narinder. “It’s allowing us to put into practice what we have envisaged will work best for our students. It means we can really consider all the barriers faced by our children and come up with solutions.
“It’s mind-blowing what we’ll be able to do now. Being able to develop that relationship with the primaries, the teachers and students is going to be huge. It’s going to make a massive difference.”
Sustainability is central to the project’s design. Once developed, the curriculum will run year after year, as an embedded part of Monkwearmouth’s offer. The school also plans to share the approach more widely across the Sunderland education community.
“This is just the start,” says Narinder.
Reflecting on the broader impact of SHINE’s £11 million, 10-year investment in the city, Narinder said: “In Sunderland, we’ve always felt like the poor partners to the South. But this puts Sunderland on the map. We can finally say, it’s our turn.
“Having the guaranteed funding is allowing us the opportunity to not be hampered by budget constraints. Instead, we can better prepare our children and give them opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have.”
Fiona Spellman, CEO of SHINE says, “We are delighted to be supporting this ambitious programme to support children through the crucial transition from primary into secondary school.
“We know that schools can achieve more when they are given the right funding and support. We look forward to seeing and sharing the impact over the coming years.”