Learners in Wales will have improved opportunities to play and
learn with musical instruments, as part of £6.82m in funding
announced by Education and Welsh Language Minister to provide additional music
resources to schools.
The announcement supports the Welsh Government’s Programme for
Government commitment to set up a national music service.
An additional £3m has also been announced by the Minister to
extend the successful Creative Learning through the Arts (CLTA)
programme for a further three years. The Arts Council for Wales
will match-fund the investment to £6m.
The CLTA programme, which has been in place since 2015,
encourages and develops creative approaches to learning and
teaching.
More than a third of schools in Wales have already participated
in the Lead Creative Schools scheme, and these schools will be
encouraged to work with and support schools that are new to the
programme to extend access to creative learning.
Musical instruments will be distributed - in the first instance -
to learners who are less likely to already have access to them,
such as those eligible for free school meals.
Minister for Education and Welsh Language said:
“We know that music and creativity can provide benefits to young
people in all aspects of their learning, and access to this
shouldn’t be determined by your background.
“I’m pleased to announce this funding to provide music resources
to support the new curriculum, and to extend the Creative
Learning through the Arts programme for another three years, and
I’m committed to making sure that all learners have access to
these opportunities within schools.”
Chair of Arts Council Wales Phil George said:
“Extending the Creative learning through the arts programme is a
testament to its success since 2015.
“Partnering extraordinary teachers with professional creative
practitioners has allowed learners to experience a new kind of
classroom environment, one that uses creativity to open pathways
in all school subjects, and one that taps into a young learner’s
natural inquisitiveness and imagination to solve problems and
release their own potential.
This third phase of the programme will further embed creative
approaches in the practice of more and more schools as they
respond to the exciting opportunities in the new curriculum. This
partnership with Welsh Government puts the arts where they
belong, at the heart of society and for the benefit of all.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Notes
This extension will secure the programme until March 2025 and
allow it to continue to support creativity within the new
curriculum
As part of the new phase of the CLTA programme, more schools will
be able to apply to be a Lead Creative School in which they
receive support from arts practitioners to deliver creative
learning projects within their schools.
Funding for adaptive musical instruments and specialist equipment
will also be available for learners with additional learning
needs (ALN) in both mainstream and special schools, to ensure
that access to music education is available to all.
Funding for music will also support other key areas, including
the purchase of copyright licences for local authority music
services, and professional learning provision for practitioners.
The new phase of CLTA will also include additional support for
music education provision as part of the new curriculum,
supporting learners with experiences in playing musical
instruments.
