Chair of the Orff Society UK https://www.orff.org.uk/

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Sarah worked as Senior Lecturer in Music Education at the University of Exeter (1990-2016) where she trained primary specialists and generalists in music teaching. She led the Masters in Creative Arts in Education for several years and supervised doctoral students.

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Her research focused on creative pedagogies, the role of the musician in the classroom and the issue of non specialist teacher confidence in primary schools. 

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She has published books, articles and chapters on music teaching and established the research journal Music Education Research which she edited for 17 years. She leads professional development workshops and courses for teachers in the UK and internationally.

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Her practice reflects a strong affinity with the Orff Approach and the well established traditions of creative teaching developed in the UK since the middle of the last century.

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She has chaired expert panels for UK government advising on implementing the National Curriculum, and evaluated the education work of several professional orchestras, the Royal Opera House and  Cheltenham Festivals.

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She was president of the European Association for Music in Schools (2009-11), and an elected board member of ISME (2012- 14). She is a member of the Education Advisory Group for the Incorporated Society of Musicians.