Francesca Christmas

Francesca works for Trinity College London as Head of Academic Governance for Music, overseeing Trinity’s UK and international music work in both music assessment and teacher training.

Francesca studied as a singer at Trinity College of Music and got her first teaching job in a London Music Service as an instrumental and vocal teacher. Early in her career, the music services was involved with the pilot of Wider Opportunities, and she has continued to specialize in whole class instrumental and vocal teaching since then. She left to train as a secondary music teacher, and worked as a music teacher and then Head of Department for several years in London secondary schools. She worked as mentor with newly qualified teachers and trainee teachers within the music department.

She later moved to Glyndebourne Opera House and English Pocket Opera Company as vocal animateur and Education Advisor, overseeing primary music curriculum development and workshop leader training.

In 2007 she took on an Area Leader role with Trinity College London and The Open University, managing the government – funded KS2 Music CPD Programme, which provided CPD for educators teaching music in primary schools. She joined The Open University at the same time as an Associate Lecturer on the Music PGCE programme, tutoring students and contributing to course materials.

She then moved to become Head of Teacher Development with Trinity College, and then on to overseeing the academic development of Trinity’s music portfolio across the world in her current role.

Francesca has contributed to various book chapters and articles, has published in education periodicals, and speaks at a range of music education conferences worldwide.