HC Deb 13 June 2003 vol 406 cc218-9W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) peripatetic and (b) staff musical instrument teachers work in state schools in Leeds; how many full-time equivalent staff there are; and what the average number of hours worked per week was in the latest period for which figures are available. [116184]

Mr. Miliband

In January 2002 there were 6,080 full-time equivalent regular teachers in the maintained sector in Leeds, 60 of whom were peripatetic. The number of musical instrument teachers in the maintained schools sector is not collected centrally.

The average number of hours worked for all full-time teachers in the maintained schools sector in England in March 2000 was 52.8 hours per week during term time. Figures are not available at local authority level.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what provisions are available for assisting talented musicians from Leeds West in state schools to achieve excellence as musicians; [116185]

(2) how many pupils in each year group (a) had access to and (b) took up musical instrument lessons at schools in the Leeds West constituency in the latest year for which figures are available; [116186]

(3) what percentage of state-educated pupils in the Leeds West constituency (a) had access to and (b) took up musical instrument lessons at schools in the latest year for which figures are available. [116187]

Mr. Miliband

The Department does not collect this information centrally, either by year group or at constituency level.

However, as a result of last years national survey we do now have data on the overall music provision for schools provided by LEA Music Services. LEAs returned this data on a confidential basis and so figures for individual LEAs cannot be released. I can, however, offer a national estimate of the number of pupils learning a musical instrument. According to the survey returns:

in England, 253,000 pupils at Key Stage 2 are currently receiving regular instrumental or vocal tuition provided by LEA Music Services (around 10.3 per cent of all Key Stage two pupils on average) 454,600 pupils in Key Stages 1–4 are receiving instrumental or vocal tuition provided by LEA Music Services (around 8 per cent of pupils on average).

Further data from the survey, at national level, are available in the form of a published report. The report can be found on the DfES Music Services website at www.dfes.gov.uk/musicservices. Hard copies have been placed in the House Library.

The Department is strongly committed to music education and we have a number of projects underway to identify and nurture talented young musicians. Talented Leeds pupils will have access to Junior Conservatoires such as the Leeds College of Music and the National Youth Orchestra as well as the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.