The Angus Council official who led a controversial review into school instrumental tuition has said it will lead to a “much richer” experience for children.
Following the approval of a 36% cut in funding, music support officer Jerry Randalls told The Courier the old model was “patchy” and admitted some instrumental teachers in Angus are simply not up to standard.
Mr Randalls was charged with completing the survey in the wake of an efficiency exercise as part of last year’s budget process which trimmed £24,000 from the Instrumental Music Service (IMS).
He said the major review involving schools, staff, parents and pupils ran from April to September and the variation in quality across the district was a prominent theme.
“What came through very strongly was that the service delivery was patchy in some parts,” he said.
“If you are in Carnoustie brass the teaching there is gold standard and can take you all the way to the European championship.
“Unfortunately, some of our teachers are not of that standard.
“I think we can put an orchestra in every secondary school and that is not something that the schools are getting just now.”
Children and learning committee councillors voted 9-7 to implement a redesign, which will see the number of equivalent full-time instrument teachers in the district cut from 18 to 11.
Convener Sheena Welsh stressed there would be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the 36% service cut.
She said some teachers would be redeployed, with early retirement for others currently in the service.
Music figures, including the renowned conductor of Tayside Symphony Orchestra, have already aired fears over the future for music in Angus schools.
But Ms Welsh believes the shake-up will not mean fewer pupils take up a musical instrument.
Increased emphasis on group teaching, remote tuition through video link and an ambition to have an orchestra in each of the eight Angus secondaries are aims of the review.
Mrs Welsh said the new provision could be structured in a similar way to the world-famous Sistema music programme.
Opposition to the review was led by Arbroath independent David Fairweather, who failed in his bid to have the plan implemented until the full Angus Council budget is determined next month.
He and seconder Margaret Thomson questioned how a 36% service reduction could lead to an improvement.
Arbroath councillor Ewan Smith said he had received “poor reports” about Angus instrumental provision, a situation acknowledged by officials who said the variation in tuition levels across the district was one of the review drivers.
Councillor Donald Morrison accused the review critics of “bluff and bluster for headlines.”
“We are going through a budget where we have to save £5-6 million and we have to make tough choices but we also have to think more cleverly about the way we deliver tuition,” he said.
Mr Randalls added that the onus on officers was to get the service right for parents as well as give children access to big band and orchestra experience.
“I was listening very carefully to what our customers were saying,” he said.
“It’s not just about the budget – it’s about the quality experience.
“We are going to redo the regional activities – at the moment it all happens in Arbroath and we are going to go to a more locally-based model.
“We are going to be moving to group teaching – it’s a much richer learning environment.
“We are also going to get the most inspirational teachers and they always attract the larger numbers.”