Durham Music Service in partnership with Durham Local Authority’s Educational Development Service welcomes the new National Plan for Music Education and the exciting vision it presents for the development of music education for the young people of County Durham and The Borough of Darlington
The vision: is “to enable children from all backgrounds to have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument; to make music with others; to learn to sing; and to have the opportunity to progress to the next level of excellence.”
The plan extends to 2020, with funding announced up to 2015.
Funding for the creation of Music Hubs
The Government has outlined funding available to support the National Plan for Music:
The vast majority of this will be invested in
hubs, which are expected to supplement government funding from a range of sources.
From August 2012, music education hubs will be funded to bring together local authorities and local music organisations, like orchestras, choirs and other music groups.
They will work in partnership to make sure every child has a high quality music education, including the opportunity to learn to sing, to play an instrument and to make music with others. The hubs will be fully operational from September 2012.
The hubs, which will be held accountable for their effectiveness, will also help improve the consistency around the country and make sure all pupils receive a high quality music education.
The Role of Music Education hubs
The role will provide a music education infrastructure from September 2012. Hubs will have four core roles
Core roles – all hubs will be expected to focus on these:
- ensure that every child aged 5-18 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument (other than voice) through whole-class ensemble teaching programmes for ideally a year (but for a minimum of a term) of weekly tuition on the same instrument
- provide opportunities to play in ensembles and to perform from an early stage
- ensure that clear progression routes are available and affordable to all young people
- develop a strategy to ensure that every pupil sings regularly and that choirs and other vocal ensembles are available in the area.
Extension roles – hubs may focus on these once the core roles have been met. They may use DfE funds not spent on the core roles, together with other resources drawn in.
- offer CPD to school staff, particularly in supporting schools to deliver music in the curriculum
- provide an instrument loan service, with discounts or free provision for those on low incomes
- provide access to large scale and/or high quality music experiences for pupils, working with professional musicians and/or venues. This may include undertaking work to publicise the opportunities available to schools, parents/carers and students.
- Some hubs will also be able to innovate further and offer other provision to meet local needs.
Why should Durham Music Service bid to operate as a Hub?
Durham Music Service is well placed to lead the local music education hubs for Durham and Darlington because it can demonstrate leadership capacity and has a national exemplar reputation and track record in music education.
The service offers unique experiences in terms of inclusive delivery for EYFS, Wider Opportunities Programmes, large and small group tuition across all key stages and a diverse differentiated ensemble infrastructure.
Durham Music Service continues to demonstrate its passion about Linking the Learning between the practice room, classroom and beyond in order that students and staff experience contextualised learning experiences which are compelling, real and relevant.
The Service is embedded within Durham Local Authority’s Educational Development Service and provides regular Network and CPD to EYFS, Primary and Secondary teachers within County Durham, Darlington and to other Local Authorities.
Durham Music Service's bid is due by 17 February 2012 and successful applicants will be announced in late April. All current providers have had funding extended to the end of the summer term, hubs will commence from 1st August 2012.
