Jennie Henley

Professor Jennie Henley is the Director of Programmes and a Professor in Music Education at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). She leads strategic academic initiatives, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and junior programs, and oversees curriculum development, access strategies, and staff training. Her expertise spans music pedagogy, inclusive education, and community music, with over 25 years of experience in diverse settings.

Education:

• PhD
• MMus
• BA(Hons)
• PGCE
• PGCFHE
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Research Interests: Jennie focuses on pedagogy-inclusion relationships, particularly in challenging environments. Her current projects include the Artists Care initiative (funded by Arts Council England) examining artist support in complex settings, and the RNCM Engage West Cumbria project addressing music education barriers through partnership work. Key areas include inclusive teaching strategies, community outreach, and the role of music in criminal justice systems.

Professional Roles:

• Quality Assessor for the Office for Students
• Chair of Greater Manchester Civic Universities Board
• Member of Greater Manchester Higher Board
• Editorial roles in journals like Frontiers in Psychology and International Journal of Community Music

Grants & Partnerships: Secured funding from AHRC, Arts Council England, Comenius, and the Benny Walker Charitable Trust. Collaborates internationally on curriculum design and music education policy.

Labs/Teams: Leads RNCM’s academic strategy and engages with external partners through RNCM Engage initiatives.