The announcement comes following the publication of The Financial Times and Statista’s inaugural list of companies in Europe with the strongest performing revenue growth over ten years.
Rocksteady Music School has topped an inaugural list of Europe’s education and social care companies with the strongest long-term growth (30th October 2024).
The Hampshire-based company was announced by The Financial Times and Statista as Europe’s 2025 ‘Long-term Growth Champion’ in the education and social care category, and number 44 across all categories. The list comprises 300 companies in Europe with the ‘highest disclosed compound annual growth rate over the 10 years to 2023’.
From a music teacher’s initial idea in 2007, Rocksteady has grown to be the UK’s leading provider of in-school rock and pop band lessons, partnering with thousands of primary schools across the country to deliver fun and inclusive in-school band lessons to tens of thousands of children every week. Rocksteady’s child-led approach to teaching aims to inspire children to pursue a love for music through primary education and beyond, whilst also supporting their wellbeing, resilience, confidence and other soft skills.
Rocksteady band lessons are also known to contribute to improved attendance and attainment. Lessons are suitable for any pupil in mainstream education, including children with SEND, English as an additional language, and additional behavioural needs.
As part of Rocksteady’s ‘for profit, for good’ ethos, the company also works to make music more inclusive and accessible for as many children as possible, delivering more than £2 million of free teaching every year to some of the most deprived and disadvantaged children in schools and charities across the country.
Scott Monks, CEO at Rocksteady Music School, said: “Rocksteady’s commitment to amplifying children’s self-belief through music and removing barriers for as many children as possible is the driving force behind this growth. Over the last few years, we have doubled the amount of free provision and are committed to sustainably growing this further, reaching even more children who would otherwise not have the chance to experience the magic of playing music.
“It’s fantastic that everyone’s hard work and dedication over the past decade has been formally recognised by The Financial Times and Statista, and I am so excited for all the incredible things that are still yet to come!
“A massive thanks to our schools, parents, and partners – and, of course, the children themselves – for creating something so wonderful. A huge congratulations to team Rocksteady for their unwavering energy and determination to make the world a more positive place through music”.
Through Rocksteady’s pioneering ed-tech enabled, exam-free music qualification, accredited by Trinity College London, every Rocksteady child has the chance to achieve a music qualification, just by doing what they love and attending their Rocksteady band lessons each week. This innovation, delivered though Rocksteady’s proprietary technology, tracks the progress of pupils in real time and is helping Rocksteady buck the trend of a decline in music qualifications.
Not only has Rocksteady’s long-term growth benefited children, schools and parents, but it has created a nationwide opportunity for musicians to achieve a stable income, as it has become the UK’s largest employer of musicians on a full-time, permanent basis. At a time when it is increasingly difficult for musicians to sustain a living from their art, Rocksteady employs hundreds of highly-trained ‘band leaders’ who share their musicianship, passion and enthusiasm with the next generation, whilst also being able to continue writing, gigging and recording at weekends and holidays.
More about Rocksteady Music School – www.rocksteadymusicschool.com.