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Cash injection to secure youth music for four years | Cash injection to secure youth music for four years |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Practical music teaching in England, delivered by a network of 121 hubs, is secure for another four years, ministers have announced. | Practical music teaching in England, delivered by a network of 121 hubs, is secure for another four years, ministers have announced. |
The hubs, first set up in 2012, allow children to play instruments, sing in choirs or play in bands, but continued funding has been uncertain. | The hubs, first set up in 2012, allow children to play instruments, sing in choirs or play in bands, but continued funding has been uncertain. |
Now the government has announced £300m to last over the next four years. | Now the government has announced £300m to last over the next four years. |
The Musicians Union said the cash would be welcome relief to music teachers "struggling" in insecure jobs. | The Musicians Union said the cash would be welcome relief to music teachers "struggling" in insecure jobs. |
Composer Lord Lloyd-Webber said it was a "welcome first step towards improving funding for music and the arts" in schools. | |
But the NASUWT teachers' union called it "a sticking plaster to cover a gaping wound". | |
'Privileged few' | |
Music education hubs work with schools, local authorities and community organisations to encourage more children to take part in music and the arts. | |
The government spent £271m over the past four years, so ministers say the latest injection of cash represents an increase and will allow the hubs to reach even more pupils. | |
"Music and the arts can transform lives and introduce young people to a huge range of opportunities," said School Standards Minister Nick Gibb. | "Music and the arts can transform lives and introduce young people to a huge range of opportunities," said School Standards Minister Nick Gibb. |
He said the aim was to ensure that "opportunities are open to all, not just the privileged few". | He said the aim was to ensure that "opportunities are open to all, not just the privileged few". |
Ministers also announced other arts education funding until 2018 including: | Ministers also announced other arts education funding until 2018 including: |
The Musicians Union says the setting of the hubs in 2012 coincided with cuts to local authority music services, with instrumental teachers suffering job losses and pay cuts. | The Musicians Union says the setting of the hubs in 2012 coincided with cuts to local authority music services, with instrumental teachers suffering job losses and pay cuts. |
The new funding "does not redress local authority cuts", said MU national organiser for education and training, Diane Widdison. | The new funding "does not redress local authority cuts", said MU national organiser for education and training, Diane Widdison. |
Ms Widdison also highlighted concerns that music and other arts subjects are being sidelined in schools. | Ms Widdison also highlighted concerns that music and other arts subjects are being sidelined in schools. |
Campaigners fear that arts subjects are being squeezed off the timetable because they are not included in the Ebacc school league table measure. | Campaigners fear that arts subjects are being squeezed off the timetable because they are not included in the Ebacc school league table measure. |
EBacc rates schools on how many pupils achieve grades (A* to C) in English, maths, the sciences, a language and a humanity. | EBacc rates schools on how many pupils achieve grades (A* to C) in English, maths, the sciences, a language and a humanity. |
The measure was introduced in 2010 and the number of pupils entering GCSE music has fallen from 43,200 in 2011 to 37,400 in 2016, government figures show. | The measure was introduced in 2010 and the number of pupils entering GCSE music has fallen from 43,200 in 2011 to 37,400 in 2016, government figures show. |
Creative squeeze | |
Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, said she hoped "this recognition of the importance of music education leads to a reconsideration of the proposed EBacc which has been so detrimental to music and the arts". | Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, said she hoped "this recognition of the importance of music education leads to a reconsideration of the proposed EBacc which has been so detrimental to music and the arts". |
She said the £300m investment was "great news" but urged the government to adopt proposals for a more creative EBacc in schools. | She said the £300m investment was "great news" but urged the government to adopt proposals for a more creative EBacc in schools. |
NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said schools' focus on subjects that would affect their league table rankings meant creative subjects were being "relentlessly driven out". | |
"Access to music lessons across the country is now largely based on parents' ability to pay." | |
Lord Lloyd-Webber said he looked forward to working with government to build on its commitment. | |
"An education in music and the arts builds self-esteem, improves behaviour and social skills, and increases broader academic achievement. These are opportunities that should be available to everyone." |
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