Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 25 April 2024.
Elizabeth Smith
Conservative
2:30,
25 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what provision it is making to ensure that all school pupils have access to music tuition. (S6O-03346)
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish National Party
The Government has transformed music tuition in Scotland by supporting councils to eradicate unfair instrumental music tuition charges across the country. This year, we are providing £12 million to local authorities to support the continued delivery of free instrumental music tuition. The most recent instrumental music survey, which was published in December 2023, shows the number of pupils participating in instrumental music tuition to be at a record high. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring access to music tuition for pupils in schools across Scotland’s 32 local authority areas.
Elizabeth Smith
Conservative
The Cabinet secretary is well aware of the fact that there have been significant financial pressures on some local authorities, including those in Mid Scotland and Fife, to ensure that they can maintain the no-fee principle when it comes to pupils accessing free instrumental tuition. Obviously, there have been some staff cutbacks, and charges have been reintroduced for participation in some central music groups and music camps, including those that cater for special needs. Is the Scottish Government prepared to examine a public trust model to assist with the funding of music tuition in order to maintain the commitment that the Parliament made to pupils in 2021?
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish National Party
I thank Liz Smith for her interest in the matter. She and I served on the Education and Skills Committee in the previous parliamentary session, and that committee made the recommendation to the Government that led to the scrapping of instrumental music tuition fees.
It is worth while recounting the progress that has been made since that time. For example, after a dip during the pandemic, the number of pupils participating in instrumental music lessons has rebounded very strongly. The number was about 61,715, which is the highest number on record since the survey began. That represents a 7 per cent increase since the previous year. The uptake also tells us that the proportion of the school roll participating in the scheme sits at record levels.
As the former principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, John Wallace, has observed, the Scottish Government
“have kept their end of the bargain, providing an extra £12 million to local instrumental music services ... The music teachers on the ground are responding with passion, music education is flourishing”.
He said that Scots should be celebrating the fact that the Scottish Government has abolished fees for music tuition in schools.
On Liz Smith’s specific point about the public trust model, if she would like to write to me, I would be more than happy to look at that issue in more detail.
Michelle Thomson
Scottish National Party
On a matter that is very dear to my heart, how will the recently announced national centre for music engage with education practitioners to support and inspire young people into music careers?
Jenny Gilruth
Scottish National Party
I very much welcome the development of the old Royal high school building into a national centre for music, and I can see the important role that it will play in inspiring young people in the future. I welcome the fact that the Royal High School Preservation Trust wants the centre to engage teachers as well as community music organisations and professional performers.
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