Posted on 26th Nov 2011

This week sees the publication of the first "National Plan for Music Education" after much research and consultation by the Department of Education under Secretary of State Michael Gove and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey.  A comprehensive 54-page document has been produced by the Government after they've considered the review published earlier in the year by Darren Henley, the MD at Classic FM.

This is a fundamental change to the strategy for music education in the UK, and contains lots of good news and bad news for funding depending upon your perspective.  Somewhat bizarrely for a Conservative Secretary of State, Michael Gove has endorsed many of the achievements of El Sistema, the Venezuelan government's ground-breaking youth music program trumpetted by their President Hugo Chaves.  The UK plan sees for the first time a recognition of increased funding initiatives in less wealthy areas of the country, with a  weighting of funds being linked to the proportion of children receiving free school meals.

The Plan includes considerable support and encouragement for the programs in existence to popularise singing in schools, and is a ringing endorsement of the potential of Music Technology to help introduce music students of all ages to the creative arts, and in particular music.

The Starland Music advisory service has provided support, advice (and of course keen prices) to Music Services and schools throughout the UK for over 20 years, and can offer a valuable service to the local "hubs" which are being created to manage the National Plan in the Autumn of 2012.  If you are preparing a "hub" presentation to the Arts Council, and are drawing upon relevant business experience to enhance your application, please contact Starland's Director, Nick Kilby via nickk@starland.co.uk.