In The Mix - September 2025

In In The The Mix Mix September 2025

Welcome to SupaJam 2025/2026!

We’ve been so excited to get this year up and running and, just like that, we’re already a month in and having a great time. It’s been wonderful seeing our new students join our returning ones. There’s such a positive vibe across all our SupaJam Colleges this year.

The first weeks of college are always a challenge for young people, especially for those who face additional barriers to education. That’s why we want to start by saying a huge thank you to our existing students for being such warm and welcoming guides to our new SupaJammers.

And to our new students, thank you! Thank you for showing up, being yourselves, and diving into SupaJam life. We know many of you haven’t always had the best experiences in education, and some of you have even been out of school long enough to forget what “coursework” means (lucky you!). But, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, and we’re so glad you’re here.

This is “In The Mix!” – a newsletter that shows off the fantastic work happening at SupaJam. From staff to students, we want to give you, dear reader, a taste of what SupaJam is all about. Over the year, you’ll see updates from each base, celebrate student achievements, learn more about the SupaJam ethos, and discover all sorts of surprises (because honestly, it’s only September, and we don't even know what incredible things our students will get up to yet!).

Here’s to a brilliant year ahead!

Best wishes, The SupaJam Team

What Can you expect in this edition?

Learn more about our recent staff training Explore why supported transitions into new educational settings matter Take a look at some of our students’ latest work experience Catch up on what’s been happening this September across all our bases Check out the Black Deer Festival line-up!

Tickets are still available!

Key Dates to add to your calendar

Have your say!

Email social.media@supajam-education.org if you want to contribute to ‘in the mix’ or our social media - we want to hear from you!

We want to showcase your work and time at college. so get involved!

STAFF TRAINING SupaJam is made by our staff: a team of dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to provide inclusive education for our students. To give our young people the best possible support, we put just as much importance on supporting our staff. That’s why Continued Professional Development (CPD) is at the heart of what we do.

We kicked off the year with our whole staff community coming together at The Bat and Ball Centre in Sevenoaks for a full day of training and reflection (and the opportunity to catch up before the hard work really begins). While the day covered a range of important topics including statutory safeguarding training and our college development plan for the year, the highlight was an inspiring session on Trauma Training delivered by Whitney Iles.

Whitney has spent over 20 years working with young people and communities affected by trauma, violence, and systemic harm. Now, she specialises in supporting the professionals working with those young people. Through an engaging workshop Whitney helped us as practitioners recognise and navigate institutional harm, secondary trauma, and burnout in young people.

CPD days like this are all about giving our staff the tools, confidence, and support they need for whatever challenges might come their way. By investing in our team, we make sure our students get the care, encouragement, and expertise they deserve every single day.

The importance of a supported transition Starting somewhere new can be daunting, and research from Mission44 shows it can be especially challenging for young people with additional needs, who often report not feeling safe, welcome, or listened to when moving into a new school or college.

At SupaJam, helping students settle in is a top priority. This term we’ve held Success Plan Meetings, where every student set three short-term goals to stay focused and build confidence. We also ran a lively Induction Week, with breakfasts, lunch clubs, wellbeing tasters, gigs, and open mics — all designed to help students connect, relax, and feel at home.

Transitions aren’t easy, but our SupaJammers have embraced the start of the year with positivity and resilience.

A huge well done to everyone. We can’t wait to see what you achieve next!

over 60% of SEND students in mainstream college said their worries and wellbeing aren’t always listened to.

almost a third of SEN and disabled students don’t feel safe or welcome in school or college

a supajam student said last year: “There is no judgement, only support throughout the whole way.”

Spotify link don’t just take our word for it. check out the brilliant podcast created by Swanley students Malakai, Honour, and Martin, sharing their own SupaJam experiences and offering advice for new and future students who might feel anxious about starting college.

Marshall Studios Work experience Our students recently had the amazing opportunity to gain real-world experience at the legendary Marshall Studios. A professional recording and mixing space where artists from across the industry come to create, this was a fantastic opportunity for our students to put what they’ve learnt into practice.

Justination working as a session musician

The band celebrating while mixing

This opportunity came about through SupaJam’s very own Sam Coppins, who not only runs Swan Studios but is also part of the band Big Truck. Alongside Sam, Big Truck features Tunbridge Wells alumni Laurie Vincent (from Soft Play) and Asa Thallon.

Their recording sessions at Marshall opened the door for our students to see first-hand how professionals work under pressure.

Sam Coppins on drums

Across three full-on days, Big Truck recorded 13 songs with SupaJam alumni Justin Myles on keys. Swanley student Alfie also joined the sessions, spending a day onsite to experience the pace and teamwork of a professional studio environment. From long hours to fast problem-solving, it was a brilliant chance to see how music is made at the highest level.

Experiences like this are what SupaJam is all about, giving young people access to the industry through real, hands-on collaboration. A huge thank you to the Creative Industries Department for organising this and the SupaJam Foundation for making it possible with their support for transport and accommodation.

Justin recording the piano

Sam and Laurie - old friends

And the work experiences don’t stop there. Tommy from Brighton will be supporting the mixing sessions, so stay tuned for more updates!

Justin and Laurie - chilling

Asa recording the guitar

SupaJam Brighton

Level 1 students in control room with college leader Abbie

Level 2 student, Kieran, playing drums in wellbeing

Some of Level 1 and the staff supporting them

Level 3 student, Lewis, during wellbeing choir

The first month at SupaJam Brighton has been all about settling in, making friends, and diving into college life together.

Students and staff have already shared cooked breakfasts, open mics, game days, and even a staff gig, creating loads of opportunities to meet new people, have fun, and feel part of the community.

There’s been a real mix of creativity, laughter, and energy, with everyone getting stuck into activities that are as much about having fun as they are about learning and supporting each other.

One of the biggest highlights was the team-building challenge: decorating eggs as favourite musicians before constructing protective structures to launch them over the stairwell. The aim?

To see which eggs could survive the drop! It was brilliant to see everyone getting inventive with their designs, working together, and cheering each other on with some eggs surviving heroically and others ending in spectacular crashes. The activity brought out loads of laughs, teamwork, and friendly competition, perfectly capturing the spirit of the start of term at SupaJam. It’s already been an exciting, imaginative, and welcoming start to the year.

Level 2 student, Josh, in wellbeing band

Level 3 students posing in photography workshop

Level 2 student, Haru, singing in wellbeing band

SupaJam canterbury

September has flown by at SupaJam Canterbury and it’s been a brilliant start to the year. We kicked things off with induction, giving students the chance to learn about how things run at SupaJam while also enjoying plenty of time in the afternoons for games and jam sessions. As the weeks have gone on everyone has begun to settle into the normal timetable, with RSL, Additional Curriculum, SMSC, Maths and English all now in full swing.

We’ve already seen some fantastic work from students, a really positive sign of what’s to come this year.

Students doing team building activity to build a structure

First builds of lego wellbeing

It’s also been a busy month outside of lessons. SupaJam Canterbury’s parent and carer information evening gave families the chance to meet staff, hear about what the year ahead will look like and ask any questions. On top of that, our Level 3 students were offered an amazing opportunity to volunteer at Ramsgate Festival of Sound.

Students learning about the supajam ethos

Supajam Canterbury’s first photo together

Lego wellbeing

Lego wellbeing

Students jammin’ in their break

Tyler and Kitty stepped up to the challenge, supporting stage management and artist liaison. Staff at the festival praised them for the brilliant job they did. It’s been a September full of learning, creativity and new experiences: the perfect way to set up for the year ahead. We’re excited to see what opportunities and achievements the next few months will bring, and we’re so proud of how our students are already representing SupaJam out in the wider world.

SupaJam swanley Swanley have had a fantastic start to the year, kicking things off with induction activities, games, and plenty of music-making across the classes. The first week ended with a celebration in the garden, where everyone came together for a jam session and some snacks. The perfect, relaxed way to round off the week and start the year on a high.

Student perfroming at end of week jam session

Fabulous end of week spread

Level 3 student, Peter, performing

Level 3 teacher, Guillermo

Level 2 student, Kaitlin, excited to be back

Friendships quickly forming!

It’s also been a doubly exciting month as work has finally begun on the brand-new Swanley building! The Project Manager has confirmed we’re still on track for completion by 7th December, which is brilliant news. For the Swanley team and students (and all of us involved), that day really can’t come soon enough. Huge thanks go to the Swanley staff for continuing to inspire students under challenging circumstances, and to the students themselves for being so brilliant throughout.

Updated site photos show great progress and Nick Stillwell is in regular contact with the Project Manager about acoustic treatment for The Vault - our new jam room. We’ll even get the chance to help choose wall colours as the finish date approaches and you can be sure we’ll find some striking wallpaper in true SupaJam fashion. More updates to come, but for now it’s just fantastic to see things finally underway!

SupaJam Wandsworth

Student playing piano in the jam room

Students and Staff at the first week of Supajam Wandsworth

Student getting stuck into logic in the control room

At SupaJam Wandsworth they’re not only celebrating the start of the academic year but also the launch of our newest college! So far this term, students have been making the most of the jam room, not just to collaborate but also to show off their skills and figure out who they want to work with.

The room’s been buzzing with energy, creativity and new connections, and there’s already been loads of brilliant music coming out of it. Over in the podcast room, students have been having some great chats about their future plans and the things that matter to them day to day, sparking some really interesting conversations.

The café and kitchen have quickly become the heart of daily life, always busy with students grabbing a tea or coffee and having a catch-up with staff in between sessions. It’s turned into a relaxed spot to pause, recharge and share a laugh before diving back into the day, and it’s helping the start of term feel fun, friendly and full of community spirit.

Don’t miss out — grab your tickets for this year’s Black Deer Festival and come check out the SupaJam Stage, packed with incredible student performances and live music all weekend.

Upcoming Dates Swanley Parent information Night and student showcase - 9th October 2025 5pm-8pm Wandsworth Parent information Night - 9th October 2025 4pm-6pm Brighton parent information night and student performance - 14th October 2025 4pm-6pm

Sign up now for our Open Evenings and discover what life at SupaJam is all about! Meet the team, explore our spaces, and see how we can support your journey in music and education.

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