Headteacher/Pennaeth Pontarddulais Road
Alan Tootill Gorseinon
SWANSEA
Tel: (01792) 533066 SA4 4FG
Fax: (01792) 533366
June 2016
Dear Parents / Guardians
Charges for Music Lessons
All pupils study Music as part of the National Curriculum in Years 7 – 9. Some pupils choose to continue to study for GCSE Music in Years 10 and 11. This is part of the normal school curriculum and there is obviously no charge for this.
However, we also run small group instrumental lessons for those pupils who are learning to play musical instruments. These lessons are taught by peripatetic Music teachers from the West Glamorgan Music Service. We have not charged parents for these lessons in the past, even though they are extra to the normal curriculum and we pay a Service Level Agreement fee for them.
This situation is now changing. We will continue to offer small group instrumental lessons for strings, brass and woodwind instruments. However, from September 2016 we will be charging £50 per term (£150 per year) for these lessons. The payment will guarantee 10 lessons of 30 minutes each term in a small group (4-5 pupils).
Although part of the reason for introducing these charges is because of the budgetary difficulties being faced by schools, we are also wanting to enhance the service we are providing. We will, therefore, be introducing lessons in vocals, guitar and drums from September 2016 on the same payment basis.
We want to ensure that these charges do not prevent anyone from learning a musical instrument who would like to do so. Therefore, if you have a child learning an instrument (or who would like to learn an instrument) and you cannot afford these charges, please contact the school for a confidential discussion. We are also aware of the pressures that will fall on families who have more than one child at the school taking instrumental or vocal lessons. There may also be some individual pupils who want lessons in more than one instrument. In cases of two or more children in the same family or an individual wanting lessons in two or more instruments, there will be a 50% discount for the second (or subsequent) payments.
Our peripatetic instrumental and vocal lessons are for pupils of all musical abilities. Pupils don’t have to be expert musicians to participate and we would encourage as many as possible to have a go at learning an instrument.
Please note that all pupils receiving extra Music lessons are expected to participate in the school orchestra and/or choir and perform in the regular concerts that we put on.
If you would like your son / daughter to receive instrumental or vocal lessons from September 2016, can you please indicate this on the form below and return it to the Music Department by the end of June.
Further information will follow before the end of this term about methods of payment.
Yours faithfully
ALAN TOOTILL
Headteacher
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PUPIL’S NAME: ______FORM: ______
I would like my son / daughter to receive peripatetic Music lessons from September 2016 in the following:
STRINGS Instrument: ______
BRASS Instrument: ______
WOODWIND Instrument: ______
VOCALS
GUITAR
DRUMS
I understand that there will be a charge of £50 per term (£150 per year), which will guarantee 10 lessons per term of 30 minutes in a small group (4-5 pupils). There is a 50% discount for a second (or subsequent) child in the same family or if an individual pupil wishes to learn a second (or subsequent) instrument.
Parent’s Signature: ______Date: ______