Wider Opportunities in Wakefield

In 2000 the Schools Minister, David Milliband, launched the government's 'Music Manifesto' which outlined their vision for music education in the years ahead. At the core of this document was the pledge that every student in the country should have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument if they wished to. David Milliband stated that "Every primary school child should have opportunities for sustained and progressive instrumental tuition," and "We will support the development of new partnerships between schools, LEA's and LEA Music Services."

Part of the implementation of this vision has been through the national 'Wider Opportunities' programme. In Wakefield, this has involved a number of schools working in partnership with Wakefield Music Services, delivering programmes of whole class tuition in voice, violin, recorder, guitar, classroom percussion, samba, African drumming, ukulele, mixed strings, flute, brass. These Wider Opportunities programmes have run for four years and will continue for 2009/10.

Both class and instrumental teachers have noticed the very positive effects of introducing children to progressive tuition. Many children have continued to learn the instruments following the completion of the courses and some of the comments from class teachers include:

"We have found Wider Opportunities a wonderful activity."
"All the children are keen and enthusiastic."
"Everyone has experienced Excellence and Enjoyment"
"Everyone including teachers have been learning to make music together"

Wider Opportunities funding is now retained centrally with each school allocated a programme if they wish. Each school is asked to contribute the £250 shortfall for the programme. A recent evaluation questionnaire that was sent to all schools resulted in 98% of programmes being deemed as good or outstanding and 2% satisfactory

Schools should contact Geraldine Gaunt, School Improvement Officer: Music Services at Manygates Centre (01924 303306) for further details and information.