Squeeze on primary music lessons

Primary schools say more money is needed for music

The number of primary schools offering children free music lessons has fallen from 24% to 13% in the past two years, research suggests.

The survey, by the Times Educational Supplement, indicates that the number of pupils learning to play an instrument has fallen in a quarter of schools which offer free lessons.

The emphasis on core curriculum makes timetabling music lessons a nightmare

David Naylor, head teacher

And nine out of 10 of the 400 primaries polled believe the government should put more money into music lessons.

More than two-thirds of schools charge for lessons - sometimes as much as £40 an hour - but fewer than 20% of pupils are willing or able to pay, the survey suggests.

The findings come in spite of Education Secretary David Blunkett's pledge to give every young child the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

In October, the government assigned an extra £10m to support music in schools, giving the music standards fund £60m a year until 2003/04.

'Nightmare' timetable

Many primary schools blamed the situation on the pressures of the modern-day timetable.

David Naylor, head teacher of Stourfield Junior School in Bournemouth, said music was often squeezed out in the drive to raise standards in reading, writing and arithmetic.

"The emphasis on core curriculum makes timetabling music lessons a nightmare," he said.

Many parents withdrew their children from music lessons so that they did not miss out on the core curriculum in Year 6, he added.

'Not recognisable'

A spokesman for the Department for Education said research suggested that school music services had already improved.

"This is not a picture recognisable to us," he said.

The cash given to local education authorities was "ring-fenced" and many were spending more than they did before the fund was set up, he added.

A study by the National Foundation for Educational Research, published last month, suggested fewer children were learning an instrument because they regarded classical music as boring and elitist.