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.
You may also want to watch:
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 Vandal targets St Antony statue outside church in Forest Gate
- 2 Ex-police officer among group jailed for £850k intercept from rival gangs
- 3 Rumours over empty Stratford estate homes quashed in meeting
- 4 Architects awarded £300K contract for Stratford Station makeover
- 5 'Petrified' cat reunited with kittens after 'pursuit' in Canning Town
- 6 Family of man who died after attack in Canning Town pays tribute to a 'loving, generous' father
- 7 Kenny Jackett emerges as odds-on favourite for Leyton Orient job
- 8 Blaze under control at block of flats being built in Canning Town
- 9 Flights from London City Airport to Switzerland resume as hub readies for return to international travel
- 10 Newham saw no deaths from Covid-19 at the end of April, figures show
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.”
