Newham’s free music programme praised in House of Lords
Children various schools from Newham East London, warm up their instruments outside the Palace of Westminster before performing at a House of Lords reception. Photo credit : Andrew Baker/LNP - Credit: Andrew Baker
A borough-wide free music programme for children was praised in the House of Lords by a Royal Philharmonic Orchestra boss this week.
A report on Newham Council’s Every Child A Musician (ECaM) programme by the Institute of Education was presented in Parliament on Monday January 21 where it was endorsed by Ian Maclay, the managing director of the top orchestra.
The report concludes: “...this is only a beginning of an opportunity to enrich the lives of the thousands of children taking part, as well as the wider community, both within Newham and beyond.
“The vision that underlies the ECaM programme is to be applauded – long may it continue.”
The council invest £2m a year into the scheme that allows primary school pupils in Years Five and Six up to three years of free musical tuition with free loan of an instrument which they get to keep if they finish the programme.
The success of the programme inspired West Ham MP Lyn Brown to ask Education Secretary Michael Gove in Parliament why arts subjects were not included in his proposed English Baccalaureatte.
Ms Brown, who took up the clarinet just over a year ago, said: “I was unsurprised when Michael Gove failed to answer the question. This Government fails to understand the importance of arts education but Robin Wales and Newham Council clearly do which is good news for the children of Newham.”
Most Read
- 1 Coroner concerned with Barts NHS trust after woman 'unlawfully killed'
- 2 One arrest, man in hospital after Stratford station attack
- 3 New Upton Park diner offers free burgers to first 100 customers
- 4 Motorcyclist, 19, remains in ‘life-threatening’ condition after A13 incident
- 5 New online information resource set up for Newham families
- 6 ‘It is not tolerated’: CCTV images released after West Ham game disorder
- 7 Overnight closure of Stratford Centre to continue for another 18 months
- 8 Olympian burglary: Men with links to Plaistow and Isle of Dogs wanted
- 9 Motorcyclist, 19, in critical condition after hitting barriers on A13 Newham Way
- 10 Wanted: Man known to commit offences on train and tube network
Mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales, said: “Newham is home to the country’s youngest population but is also one of the poorest places in the UK.
“I strongly believe that the arts are crucial to creating aspiration among our young people and that widening access to music and breaking down barriers to participation has the potential to both raise educational attainment and broaden cultural horizons.”
