Ivor Rushforth

Ivor Rushforth has been involved in arts education support for a great number of years. His career covers both Visual Arts Education specialist from Early Years to Post 16, plus Inspector/Adviser for Art and Design for Kent County Council Local Education Authority from 1989 to 2003.

He is an Accredited Ofsted Team Inspector for Primary, Secondary and Post 16 Phase Inspections in Art and Design, ICT and Design Technology.

Ivor has extensive experience in supporting general school improvement in primary and secondary schools including Performance Management and School Self Review. He is a very experienced and skilled organiser and deliverer of professional development and training in the visual arts education for primary, special and secondary schools and has a special interest in the creative applications of ICT in the arts.

Ivor has also been involved in national and international initiatives in the arts including the review of the National Curriculum in Art and Design for QCA, plus was closely involved in the creation of the Creative Partnerships programme in Kent and also provides consultancy services to the Service Childrens’ Education Service in Germany and Cyprus.

Since the inception of the Specialist Schools Initiative Ivor has worked closely with many schools in successfully gaining Specialist Arts College Status and in developing their Community Programmes.

Derek Blease

Music Education specialist from Early Years to Post 16. Inspector/Adviser for Music for Kent County Council Local Education Authority from 1985 - 2003. Accredited Team Inspector for Ofsted for Secondary and Post 16 phase Inspections in Music. Extensive experience in supporting music education improvement in primary and secondary schools. Derek is a very experienced organiser and deliverer of professional development and training in music education for primary, special and secondary schools. He has led the county music service, directed the Kent Centre for Young Instrumentalists, founded four youth choirs in addition to directing many music festivals and music summer schools. Derek continues to advise LEA's on music education policy, strategy and monitors provision of music education.