Letter of the week

The sound of music

ATHENA’S splendid article ‘We need money to keep the music alive’ () brought to mind an inner-city school that delivers the highest-quality music provision to children. Gallions Primary School in Newham, Greater London, has pupils speaking 60 different languages; 38% of the pupils are entitled to free meals, a common indicator of poverty. At this wonderful school, every pupil who expresses an interest will learn to play an instrument and perform with the orchestra. This has a positive impact on academic achievement and music is a universal language that helps bond diverse social groups. The cost of this provision is £60,000 per year, raised by the Gallions Music Trust. If one of the poorest boroughs in the UK can rise to this challenge, it must surely inspire those of us in affluent rural communities to strive for the same standard.