In an announcement in 2000, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills said that ‘over time, all pupils in primary schools who wish to will have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument’. This has come to be known as 'Wider Opportunities' as is usually focused on pupils at Key Stage 2 (age 7-11).
Schools in Wokingham Borough have been keen to participate in Wider Opportunities and we have been working with Berkshire Maestros (formerly BYMT) who deliver the provision.
Courses involves large groups of pupils (usually half or whole classes) learning to play an instrument at once, taught by one or more peripatetic music teachers. The tuition is usually with pupils from primary or junior schools. This work is funded from a Central Government grant.
It is hoped that having had the opportunity to participate in the project, a good proportion of pupils will carry on with tuition on the instrument they have learned, or use the musical skills that they have acquired to learn another instrument. It is recognised that some pupils will not wish to continue, but will still have benefited from the opportunties that have been provided.
Wokingham schools interested in finding out more should contact David Congdon, Music Adviser.
