Support and funding for music
The Cumberland Music Service offers a wide range of musical experiences based upon modern teaching strategies.
Funding for Classroom Instrumental Learning / Whole Class Ensemble Tuition
Schools who deliver their own (not through Cumberland Music Service) Classroom Instrumental Learning (CIL) / Whole Class Ensemble Teaching (WCET) in the 2024 to 2025 academic year can apply to receive £250 to support their music delivery.
Funded by the Cumbria Music Hub, through the Cumberland Music Service.
Who can apply
To qualify for the support you must:
- be a primary school in Cumberland
- deliver high quality CIL to a whole class for one term
- offer the programme to parents and carers for free
This offer is not applicable to school's who already are/have been in receipt of a CIL programme delivered by Cumberland Music Service this academic year. This is because your provision is already heavily subsidised.
You can only apply for support for one cohort of pupils, for example one year group or mixed group in a small school.
Apply online
You will need to complete the online form and provide:
- confirmation of your eligibility
- additional information about music in your school
- evidence of CIL delivery
The information you provide will help us meet our funding requirements from Arts Council England and the Department for Education (DfE).
How to use the support
The subsidy of £250 is ring fenced for music curriculum and you must provide evidence. It can be used to pay for:
- your CIL tuition costs
- high quality music curriculum resources such as Charanga, Sing Up, Spark Yard
- musical instruments for whole class use
Cumberland Music Service is a Partner in Cumbria Music Hub.
We work together with schools to deliver the aims of the National Plan for Music which sets out the government’s vision to support all children and young people to learn to sing, play an instrument and create music together, and have the opportunity to progress their musical interests and talents.
For further information about how we can support music in your school, you can email us.
Email: musicservice@cumberland.gov.uk
Free support
Some support we provide are free.
Music Mark Schools Membership 2024 to 2025
Free when joining in with online sessions SMDP or networking.
Class set of instruments
Free with CIL/FA bookings free hire for the duration of tuition.
Access to online support through networking groups and advice on SMDP
Join our free networking groups for:
- advice on your School Music Development Plan
- conversations with peers on challenges
- help with creating an effective music curriculum for your setting
We also offer one to one bespoke advice and guidance on effective SMDPs. There is a charge for this service. Email us for further information.
Email: musicservice@cumberland.gov.uk
Music resources
Charanga subscription
Primary Schools booking a Classroom Instrumental Learning (CIL) First Access programme.
We expect to provide a free annual subscription to Charanga Music School.
To be confirmed once DfE Grant funding is confirmed.
30% off Sparkyard
Sparkyard is a subscription service from Out of the Ark. It gives primary school teachers over 1000 songs, and countless resources to allow those songs to be used in every part of a school's life, including:
- curriculum lessons to support learning
- assemblies to develop community
- classrooms and playgrounds to enhance wellbeing
It also features an innovative, flexible, skills-based primary music curriculum designed to enable every primary teacher to feel confident teaching music, whatever their experience level.
Sparkyard was named as the “Outstanding Music Education Resource” at the 2023 Music and Drama Education Awards.
Email us for a 30% discount code on new or existing subscriptions. Then sign up on the Sparkyard website.