West End Letters: Both the sponsor John Nash and the head designate Jerry Collins are sending out mixed messages regarding the Pimlico Special Music Course.

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published:20 June 2008

Phasing out special music course strikes
wrong note

• BOTH the sponsor John Nash and the head designate Jerry Collins are sending out mixed messages regarding the Pimlico Special Music Course.
On the one hand they talk of building on its excellence and how valuable it is, and on the other are quite happy to see it phased out.
Westminster have refused to honour the special music teachers’ current verbal contracts and, along with the sponsor, have also gone back on agreements to pay an incremental increase in line with the main school teachers. The onus has been placed on each individual to establish their employment status with a Westminster consultant (and how much is this costing taxpayers?).
Although “assured” of employment, Westminster City Council’s and the sponsor’s antics to date do not exactly imbue confidence for the future.
Meanwhile the Department for Children Schools and Families has taken on the funding to phase out the music scheme over the next five years. This was proposed in November 2007 before the “consultation” about the future status of Pimlico School had ended, and was conditional upon the school moving to academy status. If the DCSF has money for education it should not be conditional upon the school being an academy.
Westminster have refused to allow the sponsor to continue the 10 per cent selection by musical aptitude, because of a semantic reinterpretation of what parents had asked for. As many as 94 per cent of parents who responded to the consultation had requested the school remain as it was, a community comprehensive school with 10 per cent selection by musical aptitude.
The sponsor says it is not fair that one child has more money spent on him/her than another, when the school system in this country is smitten by such inconsistencies. What about the money spent on private education? What about the cost of sending someone to a music school like The Purcell with annual fees of £20,000, which the DCSF is happy to fund for one person if their parents cannot afford it. More than six children could get a high level of musical training for that at Pimlico, and yet this is seen as poor value for money.
In their haste to rush towards “fairness” subject areas, like music, which are expensive to deliver well, will be compromised. I agree that the music provision should be more inclusive and broadened out, but that does not preclude a continued 10 per cent selection by musical aptitude to ensure excellence. Why shouldn’t state-financed schools also have a bite of the “excellence” cherry?
Georgina Schueller
Pimlico parent

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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