Protesting musicians struck up their instruments outside Stirling Council’s headquarters this week in the hope of speaking volumes to councillors on controversial budget cut proposals.
The EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland), the country’s largest teaching union, staged a protest against planned cuts to Instrumental Music Tuition in Stirling schools yesterday (Thursday) morning outside the council’s Old Viewforth HQ.
Organised by the Stirling local association of the EIS, the demonstration brought together teachers, parents and supporters of instrumental music in schools to fight £250,000 worth of budget cuts, suggested by council officers, to the music tuition service.
While councillors will have the final say, the EIS and other campaigners argue that, if allowed to proceed, the cuts would cut more than half of the instrumental music teachers currently working in Stirling schools, with serious implications for the staff concerned and hugely damaging consequences for young people learning music in Stirling.
A public consultation on the cuts has referred only to a “£250,000 review of instrumental music”.
Protesters say however, it fails to make clear the scale and impact of the job and service cuts being proposed.
The EIS believes that Stirling Council “must be honest” about their plans, and about the damage they will do to the instrumental music service in Stirling’s schools.
EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Music is an essential part of the school curriculum, and one that offers a vast array of opportunities to young people.
“The opportunity to develop their musical talents, either through instrument or through voice, is something that many young people in our schools absolutely cherish.
“In addition to developing their talent, learning music also builds young people’s confidence and can have a strong positive impact on achievement, including attainment.
“It is, therefore, a matter of deep concern that instrumental music provision continues to be under budget-driven threat in some parts of the country, including the current threat in Stirling to remove more than half of the staff working in the Instrumental Music Service.”
Ms Bradley added: “Music is not an add-on, or an extra-curricular activity, it is a core element of the school curriculum.
“The EIS strongly opposes any cuts to instrumental music provision, such as the proposals that are currently being pursued in Stirling, which would reduce the number of staff working in the Instrumental Music Service from 12 down to just five – a cut of more than 50 per cent in the current level of provision in Stirling’s schools. This would have serious implications for schools, for Instrumental Music Teachers and, most importantly, for young people who deserve equal opportunity to learn instrumental music.
“The EIS in Stirling is making a stand against these damaging cuts, and will continue to fight to protect instrumental music in Stirling’s schools.”
The local campaign has been backed by international composer and former Gartmore resident Sally Beamish OBE. Former Stirling High School pupil and Emmy-winning musician John Lunn – who has composed for hit shows Downton Abbey, Shetland, and Grantchester – has also backed the campaign, as has Jeffrey Sharkey, principal of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
As well as slashing the music service, cuts to school counselling, reducing support staff, axing out-of-school care, cutting library opening times, removing the garden waste concession, slashing funding to Stirling Community Enterprise and Stirling Citizen’s Advice Bureau and increases to charges for cemetery and burial services have also been suggested.
Councillors will have the final say on budget plans but council leader, Cllr Gerry McGarvey, has warned that, with the authority facing a £12.938m budget gap in 2025-26 alone, some “tough choices” still need to be made.
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “We acknowledge the strength of feeling behind this protest, and an important part our budget-setting process has been continuing our Big Conversation with residents and other key stakeholders on detailed savings proposals and potential ways to raise income.
“More than 4,300 people have had their say in two surveys which will help inform the difficult decisions required to bridge the council’s estimated budget shortfall of £13m in the next financial year. This ongoing and unprecedented financial challenge is being mirrored at local authorities across Scotland.
“No decisions have been made on any savings proposals in our Big Conversation – these will be taken by elected members at this year’s budget-setting meeting on February 27.”