Agenda item

In considering this item, Randall Anderson, Ann Holmes and the Rt Hon. the Lord Mayor Alderman William Russell declared that they were members of the Board of Governors of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Members received a report of the Principal of Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) on Guildhall School of Music and Drama Scholarships 2019/20 and 2020/21 and the following points were made:

·         Members noted their request on 5^th March 2020 that more information be provided by the GSMD on the impact of previous ring-fenced funding allocations conditions as well as any new funding criteria.

·         This information was now available and the GSMD was further proposing that access to these scholarship opportunities be extended to under-18 students in the Junior Guildhall programme to provide an additional pathway into music and drama education for disadvantaged students, including those studying at schools within the City of London family of schools, which would also serve to align the scholarship programme more closely with the City of London’s Education, Skills and Cultural and Creative Learning strategies.

·         Scholarship funding was awarded on a case-by-case basis and students school fees and living costs were supported via a range of funds including scholarship funds, private donors and student loans.  Seven students had been supported through the GSMD scholarships programme for the 2019/20 academic year; whilst these students had been mainly vocal students, scholarships were not limited to this area and approximately 600 students at the GSMD (of a cohort of 950) received some form of support towards their studies.  Scholarship funding was key to attracting a diverse cohort of students who might not otherwise be able to study at GSMD and supported the School to maintain its international reputation as a leading conservatoire and drama school by attracting the most talented students. 

·         In discussion, Members agreed that the GSMD Scholarships programme be continued for the 2020/21 financial year.  Members discussed how scholarships should be targeted towards the most disadvantaged young people and voiced their support for the proposal to extend scholarship opportunities to under-18 students in the Junior Guildhall programme which was a specialist Saturday School offering advanced training to young people between the ages of 4 and 18.  This would provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to gain the necessary experience and expertise to enter the GSMD, including pupils within the City of London family of schools. 

·         Members suggested that Junior Guildhall bursary opportunities should be widely and better communicated to schools and families who might otherwise not consider applying to the programme.  Members also agreed that an anonymised summary of previous scholarship awards be provided to Board Members and requested that recipients be approached in future to share how they had benefitted from their grant.  It was requested that a report on the impact of the 2020/21 scholarship grant funding should be presented to the Education Board in 2021/22.

·         The Chairman noted that whilst the Education Board had a role in approving this funding, it was held within the Finance Committee’s City Cash budget albeit subject to approval from the Education Board.  He suggested that consideration be given to bringing these funds into the Education Board budget for future years. 

It was agreed to:

·         Note the impact of the centrally funded scholarships awarded in 2019/20; and,

·         Recommend the Town Clerk take the following decision under urgency procedures, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairmen:

·         Approve funding of £30k to Guildhall School of Music and Drama for the 2020/21 financial year from the Finance Committee City Cash budget set aside for this purpose, in accordance with amended scholarship criteria promoting scholarships to students under 18 years of age in the Junior Guildhall School Programme, as set out in Paragraph 8 of the GSMD report.