Agenda item

To consider the report of the Principal of GSMD

Please note that Appendix 1 is non-public.

The Board considered the report of the Principal of Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) reviewing the City Corporation’s payment of £30,000 per annum to the school as part of the implementation of the City Corporation’s Grants Service Based Review. The Board noted that the payment has historically been used to fund scholarships, noting the impact of the funds on the School and on the scholarship recipients in 2023/24. Members were asked to agree to continue the annual payment for the financial years 2024/25 and 25/26 and to review the payment again in two years’ time in the context of the City Corporation’s wider education offering.

A Member asked whether the £30K was the only sum available for supporting disadvantaged students or whether any other funds are also used to promote

social mobility. The meeting heard that students are supported by more than one fund, noting that about half of GSMD’s higher education students are supported (half of whom are supported on the basis of financial need), and that the Young Artists are supported by bursaries based on financial need.

The Board noted the partnership initiatives between CoLA Hackney and the GSMD, particularly for the school’s sixth form.

On whether any partnership exists with the Aldgate School, the meeting heard that the information would be checked and circulated at a later date (see action point).

As noted at item 2, Caroline Haines withdrew from the discussion.

RESOLVED, That the Board

1. approve as satisfactory the submission of the School’s impact report on the use of the £30,000 grant in 2023/24, in particular noting Appendix II which outlines how social mobility is embedded in Guildhall School’s scholarships policy; and

2. approve the grant continuation to 2024/25 on the basis of this satisfactory submission.