.jpg)
In September, Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, asked Darren Henley, Managing Director of Classic FM, to carry out a review of music education, the results of which we expect to be published in December, and will potentially inform future Government funding priorities. The Secretary of State’s letter to Mr Henley included the following statements:-
‘The coalition government has signaled its firm support for music education, indicating that every child should receive a strong, knowledge based cultural education and should have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument and to sing…. I believe that music is important for every child. I recognise that children and young people are involved in a vast array of excellent music making opportunities and are experiencing an excellent music education in may parts of the country – but I also believe that there is much that can be done better to provide that level of excellence for every child.’
The review calls upon organisations and individuals across the music education sector to present their thoughts about improving music education. We've made a formal response to the review, as have some of the partners of the Sing Up Consortium.
Our current funding is due to cease in March 2011, and although the Government has expressed its strong approval of the programme, we have at this time no indication about levels of funding, if any, for a future national singing programme. However, we're continuing to work on a sustainable mixed-economy model for post-March 2011, building upon our existing public/private partnership model, and working with Government to stimulate further growth and leadership at local level.
We hope to let you know in the new year about future Government funding for music education. In the meantime, you can help too! Our best chance of ensuring a future for Sing Up is to have ALL primary schools on board, registered with Sing Up and incorporating singing into school life. We have over 92% engagement from primary schools, but if 100% are on board that’s difficult to ignore!
So, if you feel strongly that Sing Up, and Government funding for music education, should continue, please make sure that all the schools you know are registered and using Sing Up, and that your colleagues, headteachers and governors all actively support singing.
Thank you and please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Mrs Mortimer Report this comment
Posted 29th Mar 2012 09:01
Dear Government
As a parent and singer myself I know how important singing is to help young people find a voice. Not only is it FUN but also great exercise. I have seen the benefits of singing in my local area with a project involving Sing Up, the outcomes were massive in bringing everybody together and helped them feel a sense of community. The website inspires people to give it a go, even those with little music ability and I have used it to great effect with people with learning difficulties, teaching them songs which they would, otherwise, never try. Great resources, fantastic ideas and support long may it live.
Mr Squire Report this comment
Posted 22nd Jan 2011 06:06
Dear Government,
The Sing Up programme is the single most effective initiative I have come across in my 20 year teaching career. It has benefitted so many young people I have worked with and I strongly believe if it were to continue its impact would continue to be seen for many thousands more children. This article featuring a boy from Red Marsh School, a special school in Lancashire may go some way to convince you. Many thanks for reading:
www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1288837/Saved-song-The-pioneering-project-thats-inspiring-troubled-children-voice--turn-lives-around.html
Best wishes,
Ian Squire
Music Subject Leader
Red Marsh School
www.redmarsh.lancs.sch.uk
Mr Finlday Report this comment
Posted 20th Nov 2010 12:15
Dear Government.
This site has enabled our children to find their voices again. I am an untrained musician who loves to hear children raise the school roof with sound. They have learnt many new songs from around the world enriching their lives . Long may this continue and enrich our children's lives.
Ms Bellringer Report this comment
Posted 19th Nov 2010 07:18
The existence of Sing up! with its really accessible songs and exercises means that all or most teachers feel more confident to teach and lead songs. This moves singing away from the "music specialist" and singing assemblies and has moved it back into the classroom. Now back in the classroom, singing and music can then be exploited in its other powerful functions of social glue, teaching resource and cross curricular tool. If the Government want to continue to use music as a facilitator for learning, greasing the wheels of education, then it needs to maintain funding for this exceptional initiative.
Ms Keast Report this comment
Posted 19th Nov 2010 10:07
Our whole school community really appreciate the support the SingUp programme has given us. It has had an impact on singing across the whole school and throughout the whole school day. The quality and range of resources is amazing; there really is something for everyone. As curriculum leader it is so helpful to be able to signpost colleagues to such an up to date resource. The training has also been very useful. I have also been involved in the Voices Foundation project and this has helped us to forge links with singers from other schools and other areas of our own community. As a Gold SIng Up school we have an identity as music makers within our community and the whole school are very proud of the Gold award status. AS singing is such an accessible and popular area of the curriculum, which can only benefit children's educational and emotional progress it would be foolish for the govenment to no longer support the SIng Up programme.
Mrs Palmer Report this comment
Posted 14th Nov 2010 09:21
I am a music specialist but have found the site invaluable for my non-musical colleagues in school to enjoy singing with their classes. Nothing else has been so useful. Please let the funding continue
Mrs Stroud Report this comment
Posted 13th Nov 2010 07:12
Surely we need to persuade the government to take a long term strategic view. It does not make financial sense to axe the singup project: the set up costs have already been spent, it is hugely successful as evidenced by the 92% primary school take up, and if this resource goes, all schools are going to have source and fund resources from their budgets - that's a lot of schools forking out for what already has been paid for. Save money overall, save singup!
Mrs Adams Report this comment
Posted 9th Nov 2010 09:23
Dear Government
Without doubt Sing Up has made a big difference to not just Music but across the curriculum in our school. Singing and music is very inclusive and can involve the whole school community. The resources, training and support from Sing up are second to none! Please save this fantastic resource and let our children continue to be inspired to sing throughout their school lives and beyond!!
Report this comment
Posted 4th Nov 2010 10:07
Dear Government.
This is a brilliant resource and to stop funding it would be simply criminal! I am a specialist music teacher and never before have I seen any resource so useful, so inspiring and so essential as Sing Up. I use it regularly and have shared the website with the children in my school so they can sing-along with the songs I have taught them at home - they love it!!
Mrs Moyser Report this comment
Posted 31st Oct 2010 08:26
Dear Government
Please save this wonderful resource and brilliant site. I am an "untrained" teacher of music who has successfully taken singing with a big voice into two schools. Curriculum songs!!! Brillliant activities!! Empowering ideas!!
Long may you continue to offer this service.