Music charity Restore the Music (RTM) has announced £70,000 of funding for instruments and equipment at four Ark schools.
In London, Ark Priory Primary received £10,000, while Ark All Saints and Ark Burlington Danes were each awarded £20,000. In Birmingham, Ark Boulton was also awarded £20,000. In addition to funding support, the schools will be invited to attend RTM events and participate in community-wide discussions.
Laurence Cole, Head of School at Ark Boulton, said, “I was absolutely delighted to learn that our school has been selected to receive Restore the Music funding. This funding will be transformational for our music department – enabling us to buy new instruments and a variety of equipment. This will allow our pupils to practise as a band in a whole class setting and support our Key Stage 4 students who choose to study for a Music qualification. It will even professionalise our school productions. We know the importance of the Arts, and through this pivotal music provision and the excellence of our Creative Arts faculty, we want to see even more pupils pick an Arts subject for GCSE.”
Katy Holmes, Head of Music at Ark All Saints, said, “We are delighted to receive a grant from Restore the Music. We will be able to replace the keyboards in the classroom and the Mac room, upgrade our pianos and introduce DJing as an instrument at GCSE for the first time. It will also allow more scholars to take home instruments to practise. Ultimately, it will mean more children can access practical music-making.”
RTM is aiming to reverse the national decline of Music GCSE uptake, by bridging the gap in music provision in some of the most underserved communities in the UK. In their latest funding round, RTM awarded £240,000 in grants to the music departments of 14 state schools in London, Birmingham, Newcastle and Manchester, reaching 11,000 pupils and enabling vital access to nearly 1,500 instruments and resources.
Polly Stepan Moore, CEO and Co-Founder of Restore the Music, added, “We are committed to increasing access to music in the areas of greatest need in the UK to redress the huge gaps created by the persistent cuts to music education. We believe that social change is possible by putting musical instruments in the hands of schoolchildren, unlocking potential and enriching the lives of those most in need through the transformative power of music.”
Ark schools that have previously received funding and are part of the wider RTM community include Ark Acton, Ark Globe, Ark Kings, Ark Tindal, Ark Victoria, and Ark Walworth.
Throughout our network of schools, music plays a pivotal role and shapes our student’s school experience. Our Ark Music programme offers a comprehensive and enriching experience for students at all proficiency levels. With funding, we can continue to focus on instilling confidence, nurturing musical capabilities, and cultivating a lifelong passion for diverse musical genres for our students.