Music Education Hubs secure for another four years
Date Created: 21st Nov 2016
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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.
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.
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.
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:
- £29m a year to pay the fees of talented artists who would otherwise not be able attend world class arts institutions like the Royal Ballet School
- £13.5m a year to subsidise fees and living costs for students aged 16 to 23 at other high quality dance and drama schools.
- £4.1m a year for cultural education programmes including dance, film, art and design, heritage and museums
- £500,000 a year for the In Harmony orchestral training programme in extremely disadvantaged areas
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