Music education programme set to launch thanks to £1.7m of government cash

The Arts Council money will be used for “co-ordinating music education in the local area, tailored to the needs of children and young people” across five boroughs, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

An electric guitar — credit Joe Ives/LDRS

Haringey Council has officially signed off on £1.7million of support for music education across five boroughs – over two years after the government funding was first announced.

The money will be split between Haringey Music Service, Barnet Education Arts Trust, Camden Music, Enfield Music Service and Music Education Islington.

Haringey, which has been acting as ‘hub lead’ for the Arts Council England (ACE) programme since September 2024, will be responsible for administrating the funds across five boroughs through North London Music Hub.

Georgia Twigg, cabinet member for children and schools at the local authority, approved receipt of the ACE funding at a cabinet member signing last Friday (16th).

In a report, the council said the money will go towards “co-ordinating music education in the local area, tailored to the needs of children and young people across Haringey, Barnet, Camden, Enfield and Islington, including those with special educational needs and disabilities”.

Working with over 400 schools across the North London boroughs, the funding will help facilitate ongoing “high-quality music education” delivered “through diverse partnerships between educational, creative and community organisations”.

First created in 2012, there are now 43 music hubs across England, 38 of which cover “multiple local authority areas”, as defined by the Department for Education.

In a report, officers explained that the funding formula for the hubs is awarded on for academic years based “90% on eligible pupil numbers and 10% free school meals allocation”.

Each of the five councils has agreed to give a 3.75% “top slice” of their funding allocation to fund the management of North London Music Hub.

The collective total, just under £64,000 for the 2026/27 academic year, is set to go to management of North London Music Hub. This will cover key functions such as administration, performance monitoring and communication activities.

Barnet is set to receive the most funding from the latest Arts Council England grant, with a share of the funding worth just over £500,000 after its “top slice” contribution of £19,500.

Enfield and Haringey come in second and third, with the boroughs set to receive £469,000 and £305,000 respectively after their contributions to the collective kitty.

Islington, meanwhile, will have £195,000. Camden will receive £169,000 to spend on music education through the scheme.

Council officers explained that it is “extremely unlikely” that Haringey Council, as hub lead, will incur “any additional expenditure, which is outside of the top slice contribution”.

The local authority says the borough maintaining its role as hub lead “reflects Haringey’s successful appointment through the national music hub competition process and supports the council’s strategic leadership role within music education across North London”.

The report noted that: “Heads of service and service managers from consortium partners continue to have a joined-up approach and positive working relationship, endeavouring in doing what’s best for young musicians and their families.”

A separate, independently-chaired hub board “continues to have a key role in monitoring and challenging the work of the music hub,” officers added.

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