Welsh Government announces almost £7m to support music in schools

Learners in Wales will have improved opportunities to play and learn with musical instruments, as part of £6.82m in funding.

The announcement by Education and Welsh Language Minister Jeremy Miles supports the Welsh Government’s commitment to set up a national music service to provide additional music resources to schools.

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 Jeremy Miles 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.”