Pop Pioneers 2026: Peer Mentorship and Work Experience for Sixth-Form Students

Pop Pioneers is a ground breaking experiential learning program designed to give secondary school students the opportunity to create and produce their own live music event. Over five days, students will be immersed in music performance, roles behind the scenes, and composition, culminating in a live concert in one of London’s renowned music venue. This initiative is facilitated by Guildhall School’s Music Education Islington with industry professionals, such as Ronnie Scott’s, mentoring the students at Pirate Studios, utilising state-of-the-art production rooms, podcast suites, rehearsal studios, and DJ suites.

In order for the programme to become a success, we are looking for a number of keen peer mentors currently in KS5, who want to support younger musicians on their musical journey.  

Peer mentors will attend a training day scheduled beforehand and will provide support based on their GCSE or A-level expertise. These peer mentors will assist younger students in various areas, including event hosting, music production, and stage management, while developing valuable leadership and industry skills.

The mentors will be paired with students based on their specific discipline, and will receive ongoing guidance from industry professionals to ensure effective mentoring and support. This is an invaluable opportunity for sixth-form students to develop their own leadership abilities and gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting.

Peer mentors must sign up by 30 May, giving a brief summary of their musical learning and areas of expertise, linked to the three pathways offers: 'performance', 'composition', and 'behind the scenes'.