Launch of a joint partnership between the National Union of Teachers and the Musicians' Union

15 February 2011

DATE: 14 February

TIME: 9:30am

VENUE: Mander Hall, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD

This new partnership between the NUT and the MU will ensure a stronger voice for the promotion of music education in England and Wales. Both unions aim to work together both nationally and locally to oppose the cuts to music services.

No one can doubt the benefit of music education in our schools. Both the Secretary of State for Education and Darren Henley's recent review into ‘Music Education in England' speak in glowing terms of its importance and the place it should have in our schools.

The words however do not match up to the reality. Many music services have already been hit by cuts to Local Authority budgets. Freezing music funding for the next year does not ‘protect' music services as the Government claims. With inflation running at near 5% this is a real terms cut which will be compounded by the possibility of Local Authorities losing up to 10% of their music budgets as the Government moves towards a national funding formula.

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union:

"I welcome the opportunity to be working together with the Musicians' Union to ensure that our schools do not lose their music services. The stark divisions between the educational opportunities of children from different economic backgrounds is widening as a result of Government cuts to the education budget. It is essential that music becomes part of the National Curriculum. It is only through timetabled music lessons that a minimum entitlement with sufficient resources and teacher expertise can be guaranteed."

Diane Widdison, National Organiser for Teaching, Musicians' Union:

"While we were pleased to see the recommendations made by the Henley Review last week, we are concerned that these pro-music teaching proposals may have come too late for some music services. Over a third of music services have already issued redundancy notices because of cuts in Local Authority funding and it remains to be seen whether any of this damage can be undone. We strongly believe that every child should have the opportunity from preschool through primary and secondary to have quality music education and opportunities and we urge the Government to act quickly to safeguard jobs and music education provision."

In support of the NUT – MU Partnership

Crispin Woodhead, Music Teachers UK:

"Musicians who teach make such a colossal and varied impact on the cultural life of the nation that their contribution is all too easy to underestimate. The threat of cutback looms heavily over the arts and so it has never been more important that this key professional group has the most powerful and eloquent voice to defend, support and promote the work that it does. A shoulder to shoulder partnership between the NUT and the MU is more than just good news, it gives hope to our music teachers and their countless pupils that a robust effort will be made to protect those working conditions, facilities and services that make music happen."

Baroness McIntosh, Chair of the Performers' Alliance Parliamentary Group:

"Music education should not be reserved for the privileged few who can afford to pay privately for it. All children should have the opportunity to participate in music – it opens the mind, engages the imagination and enriches other learning. Cutting music education impoverishes the whole curriculum for a very small saving."

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