What Birmingham Music Service offers to schools

Some guidance for teachers and schools:

Music Service teachers are sometimes asked why schools should choose to use the Music Service, when there may be alternative (usually cheaper) means of delivering instrumental/vocal lessons. The following guidance might be helpful:

The advantages of choosing Birmingham Music Service:

• Instruction from a Music Service teacher is accompanied by the free, long term loan of an instrument wherever possible.  Private teachers are unlikely to be able to provide instruments.
  
  
• Birmingham Music Service teachers provide pupils with ready access to the whole range of ensemble and performance opportunities, offered by the city, in terms of Area and Central Ensembles and high profile performance opportunities.

• Birmingham Music Service teachers are aware of National Curriculum requirements, and the place of instrumental/vocal specialism within the Programmes of Study.  This awareness is formalised in a common and agreed Scheme of Work for instrumental/vocal teaching and learning.
  
  
• Birmingham Music Service teachers provide written pupil profiles, celebrating individual pupils' successes in their instrumental/vocal work.
  
  
• Birmingham Music Service teachers receive a structured and cohesive programme of In Service Training and are subject to rigorous and regular professional support and quality control.
  
  
• Birmingham Music Service teachers provide a degree of continuity between phases.

The disadvantages of an alternative choice:

There is no doubt that some schools will wish to make their own arrangements for instrumental or vocal teaching, at a cheaper rate.  Before they do so, they will wish to consider the following points:

• Will any such teacher satisfy inspection criteria on the quality of teaching and learning?
  
  
• Will any such appointments be made on the basis of advertisement, followed by competitive interview? If not, there are equal opportunities implications.
  
  
• Will any such teachers be suitably qualified?
  
  
• Will the school undertake police and medical checks, and be responsible for the payroll and any disciplinary procedures?
  
  
• Will the school be responsible for quality control of such teachers and their training needs?
  
  
• What arrangements will the school make for continuity, in the case of such a teacher's absence or sudden resignation?
  
  
• What arrangements will the school make for maintaining, repairing and purchasing its own instruments?