Honourable Mentions

Stand-out features of Barking & Dagenham’s submission included exemplary policy and practice on live performance opportunities for pupils and students and INSET (reflected also in training provided for other LEA music services) and CPD. We noted also the high quality of the management and that the Authority’s funding of music education exceeded the total of all Government grants.

The Caerphilly Music Service is wholly funded by the LEA and was responsible for a splendid spread of music and music theatre events. The Service continued to reach above average percentage of the total school population and generally maintains its position as Wales’ flagship music service.

The Enfield Arts Support Service reported an impressive number of new initiatives and development and consolidation of last year’s new programmes. Vocal work especially was taken seriously and to good effect. The Service’s previously noted good range of INSET provision was maintained.

Glasgow too registered numerous new initiatives and through Culture in Sports, Glasgow provided a praiseworthy programme of workshops and performance opportunities for adults with special emphasis on provision for those with disability. Valuable music technology INSET opportunities were available. There was a heavy concentration of Saturday morning activities in the re-furbished City Halls. The Glasgow Schools Big Band pilot was successful and the Band is now established as one of the Authority’s most successful ensembles. This submission demonstrates the many benefits which accrue to music makers when an authority makes such a substantial investment in customised building provision as Glasgow did in 2006.

Gloucestershire further consolidated an early years support project, provided opportunities for adults to play in bands, orchestras and jazz combinations at various levels (with over 80 adults learning from scratch) and established a productive partnership with Gloucestershire Brass Band Association. A fast track scheme for gifted and talented pupils gained momentum by virtue of free tuition and instrument loan for those playing “endangered species” instruments. The Service’s reach of 12 per cent of the school population was above the national average.

There was much to applaud in Havering’s submission; for example the breadth and volume of weekly band and ensemble opportunities made available and the fact that wider opportunities programmes were delivered in all primary schools.

Knowsley successfully enhanced training opportunities by initiating closer joint working with neighbouring and other music services. The introduction of “Carnivale” celebrations provided over 400 Wider Opportunities pupils with excellent performance opportunities on steel pans, violins, recorders, trombones, clarinets, guitars as well as singing. Support from borough-wide ensembles and secondary school hosting of the concerts did much to support successful transition between years six and seven.

Lancashire reported a most impressive number of new initiatives in the year. The Music Service’s contact with pupils and students was well above average as a proportion of the total school population, but the Wider Opportunities reach was on the low side. INSET and CPD provision and take-up was outstandingly good. The Service was responsive to the views of parents and was able to demonstrate successful outcomes to its long-term commitment to good quality singing

Lincolnshire The range and scope of opportunities for regular weekly ensemble/workshop activity continued to be outstanding as was the take-up of INSET provision. While numbers receiving tuition were improving from a very low base, the large majority of schools were accessing the Service for curriculum support purposes. At the end of the year new funds became available for development of provision for gifted and talented pupils.

Northumberland Despite low resources the Music Service delivered an excellent INSET programme which supported the Service’s commitment to both traditional Northumbrian and world musics, all of which was facilitated by an impressive range of instruments and appropriate tutors. The Wider Opportunities reach was high notwithstanding having to overcome a major and highly original obstacle to progress arising from a failure by the responsible body to identify the purpose of the Government’s grant!

Trafford prioritised provision at out-of -hours music centres and in the Wider Opportunities programme, the latter to good effect, not least in the resultant strengthening of curriculum support for primary schools. The dedicated funding of £73,000 to fund the Authority’s Youth Orchestra represented a welcome commitment in a year when the Service struggled with unprecedented levels of staff sickness.

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