Created on: 31 Oct 2024
The EIS has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and called on her to intervene to protect school instrumental music tuition, in light of East Ayrshire Council’s plans to remove its Instrumental Music Service from Education and outsource it to an arm’s length trust.
The EIS is concerned that if implemented, the Council’s plans would fundamentally undermine key Scottish Government manifesto commitments to raise the status of Instrumental Music Tuition as a key element of Education and to remove barriers to access provision.
In 2021, the Scottish Government committed to abolishing fees for Instrumental Music Tuition in schools; mainstreaming music as a core subject of Scotland’s education system; and ensuring Scotland’s school based Instrumental Music Teachers (IMTs) receive GTCS registration, creating a professionally-recognised national music teaching force.
When these manifesto commitments were announced, they were roundly welcomed, particularly as they were set in the policy context of removing cost barriers to Education, widening participation in music for all children and young people and, for the first time, giving IMTs some reassurance both in terms of continuity of employment and of recognition of their professionalism and contribution to Education through GTCS registration.
The proposed transfer jeopardises the implementation of these commitments.
In the letter to the Cabinet Secretary, Anne Keenan, Assistant Secretary (Education and Equality) outlines the EIS position, saying, “The EIS is concerned that the proposed removal (of the service from the Education department) will impact on the continued equitable access to tuition, particularly for the most vulnerable learners, who should benefit most from the removal of tuition charges.
"The experience of our members is that where instrumental music tuition has been transferred to trusts in other jurisdictions, the introduction of fees quickly follows.”
“Any re-introduction of charging will not only be contrary to government policy in terms of the provision of free tuition – policy which is supported by the allocation of Scottish Government funding to local authorities – but will also further the divide and inequity in educational provision between those who can afford to pay and those who cannot.”
She goes on to warn of the educational impact of the proposed changes: “The persistence of East Ayrshire Council (EAC) in categorising instrumental music tuition as ‘extra-curricular’, falling within Leisure and Culture, fails to recognise the professionalism and extent of the role which IMTs play.
"The proposed removal of the Service from Education to a leisure trust further dilutes the educational focus of this key service for children and young people, contrary to the policy direction set by the Scottish Government nationally.”
With performance representing 50% of the assessment in National Qualifications in Music, IMTs deliver essential tuition to prepare young people to complete SQA practical assessments to the requisite standard. Engagement in tuition in Primary and the early stages of Secondary is also essential to ensure that there is the progression and development of skills to enable pupils to reach the requisite standard.
The Scottish Government’s commitment to mainstreaming also acknowledges that the impact of IMTs goes far beyond this narrow, but important, academic focus and has long been shown to support the health, wellbeing and holistic development of the young people they teach.’
On contractual issues, Ms Keenan highlights that the proposals, “Undermine nationally agreed collective bargaining arrangements and could result in a situation where a group of staff currently covered by SNCT (Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers) terms and conditions are treated differently to their colleagues across Scotland.”
Calling on the Cabinet Secretary to intervene, Ms Keenan cautions , “It is clear that the proposed transfer of East Ayrshire IMS to an arm’s length trust, by an SNP-led Council, will jeopardise implementation of the Scottish Government’s manifesto commitments, effectively privatising a key aspect of Scottish Education and thwarting plans for the continued roll-out of equitable access to free instrumental music provision for all children and young people.”