Save Midlothian Music Tuition 2023

This cut contradicts the Scottish Government Manifesto commitments concerning instrumental music tuition, which have cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament.

The Policy Commitment

The SNP Manifesto 2021, 'Scotland's Future' set out the SNP policy commitments
for the current Parliamentary session.

In relation to music and arts education, it undertook to:

abolish fees for music and arts education, including instrumental music
tuition in schools;

mainstream music as a core subject in Scotland's education system; and

ensure Scotland's school-based instrumental music teachers receive GTCS
registration and accreditation.

The Scottish Government commitment to abolish instrumental music tuition fees is part of a wider policy objective to remove cost barriers to education.

The SNP Manifesto clearly articulates this policy, stating:

'No pupil should struggle to learn because of poverty. We know that some families are sacrificing essentials like heating, food and rent payments so
that their children can participate fully at school – this is unacceptable. The barriers to education must be removed.'

It then provides specific comments on 'Curriculum Charges', making the following commitment:

'To ensure equal access to the whole curriculum, we will remove core curriculum charges for all pupils. This will enable children to take the subjects they want without families having to struggle to meet costs of resources and materials for practical lessons.'

The Gulf between Policy and Practice

Despite these laudable policy ambitions, which seek to ensure equitable access to instrumental music tuition for all children and young people, the reality is different in practice.

Midlothian Council proposes to withdraw its funding of the Instrumental Music Service - to the tune of £440,000 - and rely solely on the funding provided by the Scottish Government.

On 4th October 2022, the Scottish Government issued a letter to the Directors of Finance and Heads of Instrumental Music Tuition, providing advice concerning the allocation of funding in respect of instrumental music tuition in schools.

The letter refers to the Manifesto commitments and provides 'further advice and confirmation of what the commitment on abolishing fees means in practice for local authorities and schools, and how the funding can be managed to meet this commitment'.

It refers to the increase in funding provided to local authorities and goes on to provide that 'Scottish Ministers expect that the uplift in funding should be spent on an enhancement of instrumental music tuition services, including activity in this academic year which could support further enhancement in later years.' (emphasis added).

The advice then goes on to provide examples of how the funding can be used. All examples given refer to additionality both in terms of staff and resources.

It is clear from this letter that this additional funding alone is not designed to fund the provision of instrumental music tuition fully but rather to supplement the existing funding which Local Authorities have previously allocated to Instrumental Music Services.

This has not been recognised in the approach being adopted in the draft budget proposals by Midlothian Council.

The Impact on Children, Young People, Instrumental Music Services and the Community

As there will be no younger pupils feeding through to Secondary and ultimately to the senior phase, it will be nigh on impossible to get pupils, who have only started to learn an instrument at Secondary School, to SQA standard or, indeed, any suitable standard in the given time which enables them to take a meaningful part in School, Authority or Community musical activities.

Due to fewer or no younger pupils with any experience of learning an instrument coming through to Senior level and only a few of those studying for a National qualification e.g. Nat 5, Higher, Advanced Higher likely, but not guaranteed, to receive any tuition through the Instrumental Music Service, Music as a subject in Midlothian is likely to be reduced in size or downgraded.

The aim for equity of opportunity and experience enshrined in the Government manifesto will be lost to Midlothian pupils.

The same issues of equity of access which were highlighted when Local Authorities charged for lessons will arise again. Only those pupils who can afford to pay for private instrumental music tuition will be in a position to take qualifications in Music or play in bands and ensembles. Children and young people from socio-economically deprived areas will not have this opportunity or the opportunity for rich engagement with Music to enhance achievement or health and wellbeing. This is contrary to the policy intent of the Manifesto commitments.