Music is a universal language that embodies one of the highest forms of creativity. A high-quality music education should engage and inspire pupils to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination to the best in the musical canon.

Have a look at some pictures of us in action!

Shropshire Music Service 

We are lucky to be supported in our music curriculum by the Shropshire Music Service. This specialised music teaching is delivered by experienced teachers who are experts in their field. The lessons are in line with the current national curriculum and children are given excellent opportunity to learn, play, compose and perform. We aim for this to provide a solid musical foundation and an ongoing development.

Jon Hayward Memorial Trust 

If you have children at our school with an interest in and aptitude for music, who are unable to access music lessons due to their families’ financial situation, we are keen to hear from you.

The Jon Hayward Memorial Trust (registered charity no. 1121391) has provided over 200 music bursaries to Shropshire primary school children over the last ten years. We are now seeking referrals for the next academic year.  We part-fund lessons both in schools and those arranged privately. In both cases, we like to make contact through the school in the first instance to provide an impartial reference.

We are able to meet up to 50% of music lesson costs (up to a maximum of £200 per year) for some children in years 3-6 whose families are unable to meet the full cost of tuition and do not qualify for funding from any other source. Upon recommendation from the school, we can occasionally offer smaller bursaries to families who qualify for some council funding - i.e we can match-fund a remission of 25%, so that the family only pay 50%. We also have a number of instruments (violins and guitars) available for free loan.

The Trustees will be meeting in July to look at all referrals and to decide which children the charity will be able to assist for the next academic year. The referral needs to be completed by the school and these call be collected from the school office. (Referrals received later in the year may still be considered, if we have any remaining spaces, but those received by July will have priority.)

As our bursaries are based upon financial need, we ask for a family’s income details. Proof of this from their Child Tax Credit statement will need to be provided either by enclosing a copy, or by the school verifying that they have seen this if the family do not wish the charity to view it. All trustees of the charity have DBS clearance and no details of applicants requesting funding will be disclosed to any other parties.

The Jon Hayward Memorial Trust was set up in memory of a well-known Shropshire folk musician who sadly died in November 2006. Jon was passionate about music and always enjoyed sharing this with others. He particularly loved to see children developing their musical ability. Over the last twelve years family and friends have raised funds through concerts, ceilidhs, luncheons, sponsored walks and raffles, enabling us to assist in excess of 200 children in over 40 Shropshire primary schools.