Nurturing Talent and Identity

The CultureMix Steel Pan Programme

A Unique Partnership for Youth Development

The Bulmershe School is committed to providing unique opportunities that nurture both the academic and personal development of its students. Recently, the school successfully concluded a ten-week mentoring programme in collaboration with CultureMix Arts, an international music and carnival arts company, and Reading Council’s Department of Economic Growth and Neighbourhoods.

This project was made possible through funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund, allocated by Central Government to local authorities. The goal was twofold: to celebrate young people’s identity and cultural heritage while simultaneously introducing them to the creative industries, one of the UK’s fastest-growing employment sectors.

The CultureMix team designed this programme to celebrate young people’s identity and develop essential life skills. We were honoured to collaborate with CultureMix and extend our thanks to the council for their support in making this project possible. They recognise that schools are incredibly busy environments and accommodating a project of this nature requires significant effort and commitment.

Focus on Skills and Wellbeing for Year 9

A selected group of seven Year 9 boys participated in the ten-week programme. It was specifically designed to support, inspire and instil a strong sense of belonging, factors that are proven to help improve academic outcomes and enhance the life chances of young people of black heritage.

The programme provided a rich curriculum that extended far beyond music lessons, including:

• Music Skills: Intensive training on playing the steel pans.
• Project Management: Students learnt how to set up a project schedule and manage a simple budget, skills directly relevant to the world of work.
• Life Skills and Mentoring: Group sessions explored the meaning of culture, the importance of identity and its link to the community. Discussions also looked ahead to the world of work and the Black contribution to British culture.

At a time when many young people face challenges with mental wellbeing, creative programmes like this have a profoundly positive impact. The weekly sessions provided a fun, safe space for the students to grow their confidence.

The PanDem Performance and Student Outcomes

The programme culminated in a powerful final performance by the students, who named their newly formed steel pan band PanDem. Playing in front of their peers in the school auditorium, the boys showcased the impressive skills and confidence they had gained over the duration of the course.

The student feedback highlighted the immense personal growth achieved:

“I’ve learnt new skills of how to set up a project. It was a good experience and if you ever get the chance to do it I recommend you take it.” – Josh

“I went out of my comfort zone and became closer with my peers.” – Dwayne

“One of the highlights was coming down to the studio and recording.” – Kayden

Bulmershe Librarian, Miss Marr, who accompanied the students, said she enjoyed watching their confidence grow and was impressed with how quickly the boys picked up the complex skill of playing the steel pans. This project was a wonderful way for the students to make new friends and develop future-ready skills. “When we first started the boys were reluctant to do a performance, but by the end they were confident and pulled off an amazing show! I was impressed with how the boys picked it up so quickly.”

The Bulmershe School is proud to support such impactful initiatives that help form well-rounded and skilled young people ready for life in modern Britain.