The Warrington schools’ arts and culture service supports schools to offer a range of high quality music, art, dance and drama lessons and activities.  

Music
The arts and culture service is responsible for the management of music network meetings in schools and related strategic development.  

Instrumental teaching
The instrumental teaching team is available to all schools, providing a variety of instrumental and vocal activities.  We offer lessons in the following disciplines: 

• Brass
• Strings
• Whole class violin
• Whole class mixed strings
• Whole class mixed brass
• Whole class concert band tuition (Sound Start)
• Whole class gospel singing
• Whole class recorder
• Woodwind (including bassoon/tenoroon)
• Whole class African drumming
• Whole class samba and tuned percussion
• Whole class keyboard
• Whole class Early Years music

We offer weekly tuition both in small groups and in whole classes. Our focus is to develop all round musicianship and pupils are encouraged to perform in ensembles.  Lessons range from 30-60 minutes per week. In secondary schools, we teach both individual and group lessons. 

Lesson charges
Primary school students involved in whole class instrumental or vocal activities cannot be charged, however parents/carers of children opting to continue their studies into a second year might be asked to contribute to the cost of the lesson by the headteacher.  This will differ from school to school depending upon individual subsidy policy.  Secondary schools generally charge for instrumental and vocal lessons, and parents/carers are advised to contact the head of music at the school their child attends. 

Progress and reporting
We advise all students to practise for at least 10 to 20 minutes per day.  Students are advised about how to practise by their tutor and instruments are allowed to be taken home for individual practise throughout the week.  The projects excluded from taking instruments home are keyboard, samba, African drumming and Early Years music. 

Students who have either an individual or small group lesson will receive an annual report which will be completed by their tutor and sent via the school.  For those students involved in whole class activity, we encourage parents to attend a concert at their child’s school at the end of each term in order to experience a whole class performance and discuss their child’s progress where appropriate.  Parents are welcome to contact their child’s tutor at any point during the year and should contact Sharon Burgess on 01925 443228 to arrange this. 

Examinations
Music Medals Examinations are offered to students in brass, strings, woodwind and keyboard.  Students are invited to participate in the Music Medals Scheme in order to enhance their studies in a group lesson.  Parents are charged for this exam. Visit the ABRSM Music Medals website

Trinity Guildhall Grade Examinations are offered to students who have reached a more advanced level of performance.  Participation in these exams is also by invitation. Visit the website  

Instrument loan
Primary schools – Warrington schools’ arts and culture service issues a free instrument to the pupils it teaches, for the duration of their tuition. Instruments are supplied to schools and are retained by the school on a long term loan basis.  Pupils will need to return their instruments to their primary school at the end of Year 6. 

Secondary schools – We offer continued support to those pupils who wish to continue lessons at secondary school by purchasing some larger/more expensive instruments on their behalf (bassoon, cello, double bass, tuba, euphonium / baritone).  

We ask parents to purchase all other instruments for pupils who want to continue lessons at secondary school – see the assisted purchase scheme information below.  It is important that parents make early contact with the head of music at their child’s new secondary school as the school may have an instrument that would be available to loan.  Each school will have its own policy with regard to charging for instrumental or vocal lessons and parents should discuss this on an individual basis.  For queries contact Janice Pounds at jpounds@warrington.gov.uk. 

Assisted purchase scheme
Some schools operate the assisted instrumental purchase scheme, which means that parents can buy instruments for their children without having to pay VAT. To take advantage of this, parents/carers need to buy the instrument through school with the permission of the headteacher (Warrington schools’ arts and culture service has no involvement). Parent and schools must operate this scheme in accordance with HM Revenue and Customs regulations: 

• It is not available in sixth form colleges or independent schools, or to students who are moving to university or music college
• To qualify for VAT relief, the instruments should be used in school on a regular or weekly basis during lessons
• The school must order the instrument and accept delivery
• The supplier must be registered for VAT 

Art, dance and drama
Warrington schools’ arts and culture service is responsible for the management of teacher network meetings in art, dance and drama.  Representatives from all schools are invited to attend the network meetings which focus upon the development of networked activities in order to improve standards and encourage exchange of materials by colleagues. 

In addition, the arts and culture service works closely with the Primary Arts Network (PAN) in order to facilitate additional arts opportunities for children both in and out of school.  We also facilitate the Big Draw Campaign in Warrington and all primary schools were invited to join the project. 

An arts steering group meeting is held each term.  This group is representative of the council and both primary and secondary school sectors and is responsible for the planning and implementation of school arts policy and related events for children in Warrington. 

Community partnerships and additional arts activities
In addition to strategic school support, the Warrington schools’ arts and culture service offers out of hours arts activities for students, parents and the wider community.  We also work in partnership with Warrington Youth Orchestra which rehearses every Saturday morning between 9.30am and 12noon at Bridgewater High School.  For more details see the family learning centres information sheet.