09 July 2004
Teaching leaders have sounded a note of caution over ministerial proposals to promote music education.
Commenting on the government's promise to give all schoolchildren access to music lessons, Steve Sinnott, new general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the scheme would need to be supported by adequate funding.
'Welcome as this initiative is, it can only work if sufficient resources are made available to schools to support the programme, and greater flexibility over the curriculum is given to all schools.'
But schools minister David Miliband said that, in addition to rising general school funding, the government would continue to support the ring-fenced Music Standards Fund, worth almost £180m until 2008.
The Music Manifesto, launched by Miliband and arts minister Estelle Morris on July 6, has secured backing from leading music industry figures.
One of its main aims is to give all pupils access to free or reduced-cost music lessons over the next five years. The 70 signatories say they are committed to helping young people 'create the soundtrack to their lives'.
Miliband said: 'The manifesto is a route map for the future of music in school and by schoolchildren. This is just the start – we expect new pledges and new signatories to come on board.'
PFjul2004
