Pupils forced to pay for classes

Bridge of Don music student to oppose new council policy

By Gillian Bell

Published:

BANDING TOGETHER: Callum Clark, front, with left to right, Chris Lovie, Perri Dawson, Irvine Cruickshank, Angelica Crawford and Glen Brodie. Raymond Besant

Aberdeen City Council has been forced to charge standard grade and higher music students for instrumental lessons.

It is understood the move has led to some pupils dropping the subject, as their parents cannot afford to pay.

Calum Clark, a 16-year-old fifth-year pupil at Bridge of Don Academy, said he plans to launch a campaign against the new policy, which affects dozens of pupils. He said his family can afford the new charges of £8 for a group lesson and £10 for an individual lesson outwith class time, but others may not.

A letter written by city council music co-ordinator Ken McLeod and sent to parents says that all departments are being asked to make savings “to deal with a large deficit in the budget for 2008/09”.

As a result, anyone not already on a music course as of August 18 of this year will have to pay for lessons outwith class time.

Calum, of Keir Heights, Balmedie, said: “They can’t learn their pieces if they don’t get lessons. The only way I was able to pass my standard grades was by having lessons.”

He said he is planning to organise a petition to protest against the “injustice” of the move.

Neighbouring local authority, Aberdeenshire Council, already charges students for music lessons, except those entitled to free school meals.

It also runs a discount scheme for families who have either two or three children receiving lessons.

A spokesman for Aberdeen City Council said teaching music is not a statutory obligation and the move saves the council from having to downgrade the service or even scrap it altogether.