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Birmingham Music Service instruments in
schools
Teaching from Music Service teachers takes place on instruments provided from three sources:
- Those provided by the Music Service, usually on long term loan to individual pupils;
- Those provided by the school from its own budget share;
- Those provided by parents.
Birmingham Music Service is almost unique nationally in its commitment to providing the free loan of an instrument wherever possible.
The Policy
The purpose of this policy is to make clear and public to schools, advisers and instrumental teachers, the process by which Music Service instruments are allocated to individual pupils in schools.
This policy supports the Birmingham Curriculum Statement for Music, the LEA's charging guidelines and the city's anti-poverty strategy.
Music Service instruments are allocated on the following basis and in the following priority:
- The Music Service sets a budget for instrument purchase in April each year.
- Instruments are allocated on the basis of six instruments per hour teaching supplied by the Music Service.
- Schools should express any bid for an increased allocation of instruments along with their order form.
Bids are prioritised in the order they are received and according to the following priorities:
| Category
A |
to individual pupils, already learning instruments, transferring to other schools |
| Category
B |
to individual pupils in schools where no teaching currently takes place |
| Category
C |
to individual pupils in schools which are increasing their Music Service teaching to support increased pupil demand |
| Category
D |
to schools where an historic reliance on parent-owned instruments would result in a reduction of teaching hours as those pupils leave |
Instrument Repair Policy
Music Service instrument repairs are carried out on the following basis:
- Schools are responsible for normal running costs; strings, reeds etc.
- The Music Service sets an instrument repair budget each financial year. This budget is allocated across three terms.
- Schools bid for instrument repairs in writing to the Music Service.
- Such bids are prioritised as follows within the budget set for each term. Where the termly budget has been spent, repairs will be put back to the following term.
| Category
A |
where the instrument is unplayable without repair |
| Category
B |
where the condition of the instrument impairs the development of a pupil |
| Category
C |
any other repairs |
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