EIS finds 'incredible' difference in music tuition fees across country

Music tuition for school pupils in Perth costs almost twice as much as lessons for pupils in Fife, according to a new report by the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS.

  
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The vast difference in charges for music tuition in different areas in Scotland has been uncovered in the report.

In Fife annual music tuition costs only £125, but in Perth and Kinross the cost is £246.

In Dundee music lessons cost just £132, but another £83 is charged for use of an instrument, while in Angus fees are £183.

Perth and Kinross Council received £202,796 in the year to June 2012 from tuition from 1,051 pupils, 250 of whom were exempt from charges.

Dundee City council netted a total of £102,097 though would not disclose how many pupils received tuition.

Fife taught 2,665 pupils in the last academic year, 914 of whom were exempt from charges. 1,238 children in Angus received tuition with 454 exemptions. Fife and Angus wouldn’t disclose their total revenue figures to the EIS freedom of information request.

Aberdeen City Council had the highest annual charge at £340 and had netted more than £500,000 in fees last year.

Highland Council closely followed with a total of £453,000.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said he found the difference in the level of fees charged »incredible».

He said: »While some local authorities levy no charges at all for music tuition or charge simply to cover costs, others are charging pupils excessive fees and generating substantial profits into the council coffers.

»Two local authorities in particular are responsible for generating almost a million pounds in collective profit through music instruction fees, with both taking in around £500,000 more from pupils than it costs to operate the service.

»These councils, and the others who are profiting from pupils’ eagerness to learn, need to explain their actions and outline precisely how this excess revenue is being spent to support music education in our schools.»

The overall figure from the 50,000 pupils receiving tuition nationwide was £2.8 million.

The results of the EIS investigation will be submitted to the Scottish Parliament’s education and culture committee.

Mr Flanagan added: »It is truly shocking, at a time of deep cuts to music tuition in schools across Scotland, that local authorities are collectively raking in profits of almost £3 million from charges for music tuition.

»Education should be about providing an equal opportunity for all to benefit and learn but, sadly, in the case of music instruction a small number of pupils are being charged a heavy price for developing their talents in music.

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