Agenda item

(a)       That the developments of the Theatr Clwyd Music Trust, since its creation, including the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic be noted;

(b)       That the Committee is assured that the Theatr Clwyd Music Trust is positively and actively delivering on the National Music Service Plan for the benefit of children and young people in Flintshire; and

(c)       That a letter is sent, on behalf of the Committee, to all Headteachers to encourage schools to promote the delivery of the music service, specifically targeting children eligible for free school meals and looked after children.

The Chair welcomed Mr Liam Evans Ford, Executive Director of Theatr Clwyd and Mr Aled Marshman, Director of Music, Theatr Clwyd Music Trust to the meeting, who would be outlining how they and members of the Theatr Clwyd Music Trust worked to enhance the learning opportunities and experiences of students. 

The Chair added that being taught music and the skills of learning to play an instrument helped students to develop their language skills, reasoning skills, their sensitive and critical learning skills and could define motor skill development and  improve memory.  The creative and performance side of the subject together with a greater understanding of the role in music and history and contemporary society all add to a fuller education for a student.  As an authority Flintshire County Council were proactive in their efforts to ensure that every student had an opportunity to enhance their learning experience and promote their talents, regardless of who they were. This included students in receipt of a pupil grant awarded to schools to support students who were eligible for either free school meals or who were looked after.  This was a targeted grant given to overcome the barriers which may prevent a student from reaching his or her full potential.  

Mr. Liam Evans-Ford introduced a report to provide an update and overview of Theatr Clwyd Music Trust followingits first 18 months of delivery, as set against agreed principles of transfer in 2019from the Education Portfolio within the Council to Theatr Clwyd.  This transfer was designed to initially protect, but also to further enhance, the delivery of musiceducation services to the children and young people of Flintshire which was underthreat due to increasing financial pressures on the Council.

            Mr. Aled Marshman, in referring to the report, outlined the negative impact the Covid pandemic had had on music and the arts, with a 75% reduction in learners between March 2020 and May 2020.  Those students who had remained with the service reported on how important it had been to their health and wellbeing.  He provided background information on discussions held in September 2020 on the way forward with the decision taken to remain online for the year but this was challenging and the increase in numbers was slow.   In September 2021 returning to schools saw learner numbers doubling but the aim was to grow further to enable every student to have an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of music both socially and culturally. 

Mr. Marshman provided detailed information on the scoping document, charging policy and the five ensembles, which had increased to eight following the increased numbers in September 2022.   More emphasis had been placed on the new starters to create an important journey for them and he provided information on the flexibility of the system in place for schools.  Information was also provided on the National Plan for Music Education in Wales which would support the Curriculum for Wales, especially in primary schools, with the focus on every year 3 child experiencing at least two terms in music.

Mr. Evans-Ford summarised the future challenges which were the costs to schools, costs to families and making the most of those first experiences and continuing pathways.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Education, Welsh Language, Culture and Leisure, referred to his time as a child in school learning to play the piano and flute and later as a teacher with the excellent music tradition both choral and instrumental which had existed in the schools.  He commented on the opportunities available through the Pupil Development Grant and other mechanisms which would enable all young people to have this valuable experience, equally for sport, music, arts and going to theatres.  He was delighted with the progress made and he thanked Theatr Clwyd and the Music Director for all the work carried out in this area and fully supported them in their aims for the children of Flintshire. 

Councillor Carolyn Preece thanked Mr. Evans-Ford and Mr. Marshman for the presentation of their report and suggested that a letter be sent to all Headteachers to encourage schools to promote the delivery of the music service, specifically targeting children eligible for free school meals and looked after children.  This suggestion was supported by the Committee.

In response to questions from Councillor Dave Mackie around on-line learning and cost, Mr. Marshman referred to learning from Covid saying that working in a digital world to create an active session rather than a passive one when teaching beginners was key.  The online platform was still being used with lessons learnt for example on microphone usage and frequencies of instruments.  Families were still taking up the online offer in conjunction with the in person offer providing more flexibility and enabling learners to stay with the same tutor even if they had moved out of the area.  Mr. Evans-Ford also provided information on the group costs which were dispersed against one-to-one costs saying that the new charging system was more transparent.

In response to comments on first experiences, the Mr. Marshman confirmed that this was two terms which was free to schools, pupils, and families.  At the end of the two terms, concerts were arranged to show to parents what could be achieved, and information was then given to parents to take home to consider continuing with the learning.  In referring to the Pupil Development Grant and Free School Meals, he fully understood that these budgets were under pressure and could be applied in several ways.  He fully supported the suggestion to write to head teachers to ask if music could be promoted as one of the options.  Mr. Evans-Ford outlined the opportunities which were available because the Council had moved to the current model which included Trust and Foundation Grants.  Discussions were progressing with these foundations to obtain more grant funding which was not linked to the Free School Meals or Development Grants.

            In response to a question from Councillor Parkhurst around the charging structure model, Mr. Marshman confirmed the charging structure model was created three years ago when the cost of living was not at the level it was today.  He provided an overview of the costs of group lessons with the modelling carried out at the start with the charge reducing from £53.20 p/hour in the old model to £38.20 p/hour in the new model.  The hourly charge was the same whether it was group or individual lessons.   He said that he was proud of the quality and standard of music associates which had enabled top quality provision.  Mr. Evans-Ford explained that when this change was put in place its main aim was to keep music teachers employed with neighbouring authorities choosing to make their musicians redundant and close their services.  He confirmed that one of the aims over the forthcoming years was to continue reducing those costs for families and schools.

            Councillor Parkhurst said that the hourly charge of £38.20 being the same for group and individual sessions was correct in respect to the cost to schools but this was not the situation for the cost to parents or others who fund the music lessons where there was a subsidy for group session and individual lessons, and therefore, this was more expensive and cost more than could be achieved by private lessons.

Mr. Marshman outlined the work carried out over the last couple of years to make the website and app more user friendly.  Direct Debit payments had also been introduced to help families spread the costs.  The website was built for music services to enable schools, families and the music service to use them but it was quite new and not widely used in the UK.  This was a learning curve but was improving.

In response to questions from the Cabinet Member for Finance, Inclusion, Resilient Communities including Social Value and Procurement around the first experience pilots, Mr. Marshman confirmed that this was targeted work.  The first experiences pilots at Golftyn and Queensferry were for every child with the music associate identifying those young people who enjoyed and thrived in these sessions.  The feedback from all the pilot schools was key as well as the lessons learnt from the winter of well- being which was integral to achieving those increased numbers.  Engagement with parents to come and see their young people enjoying the sessions and showcasing what they had learnt had to come via the schools.  Mr. Ford-Evans explained that the challenges were, exciting young people, ensuring the parents valued it, and that Headteachers were on board.  The successful stories were in schools where Headteachers promoted music and allowed their pupils to commence their musical journey. 

The Chief Officer (Education & Youth) expressed her thanks on behalf of the education portfolio on the innovative and creative ways the services had worked to protect something that was so valued in Flintshire.  The development of the model took a long time working with the music service, schools and professional associations to ensure it was successful and she was delighted that it was continuing to thrive although in a different model.  She paid tribute to Mr. Marshman who, through his work developing the National Music Plan as the ADEW representative for Flintshire, had shaped discussions at a national level.   Welsh Government (WG) had recognised that music services were under threat and had made significant amounts of funding available to protect this opportunity for the children of Wales.  She outlined the discussions held with schools on how this model could be sustained with commitments to reduce the charges and that this report provided a baseline of where the service was at currently.

The Chair thanked Mr. Evans-Ford and Mr. Marshman for their attendance and asked that they convey to their staff the Committee’s thanks for their skills, enthusiasm, knowledge and sheer joy of music that they brought to schools. 

The recommendations, as outlined within the report, with the additional recommendation to write to Headteachers as previously suggested by Councillor Preece, was moved by Councillor Paul Cunningham and seconded by Councillor Gladys Healey.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the developments of the Theatr Clwyd Music Trust, since its creation, including the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic be noted;

(b)       That the Committee is assured that the Theatr Clwyd Music Trust is positively and actively delivering on the National Music Service Plan for the benefit of children and young people in Flintshire; and

(c)       That a letter is sent, on behalf of the Committee, to all Headteachers to encourage schools to promote the delivery of the music service, specifically targeting children eligible for free school meals and looked after children.