Impact22nd January 2025

Committing to music for every child: Ark Charter

Ark Music works to ensure every child can have a life enriched by music, particularly those who have not had the opportunity to take part in music outside school.

Ark Charter Academy

Ark Charter serves a community of high need in Portsmouth. 56 percent of students are eligible for free school meals (the national average is 24 percent) and a high proportion of students are supported with their mental health and general welfare. Head of Music, Nikki Steaggles, explains the of role music at the school.

“I know that our students would have little to no opportunity to learn an instrument if we didn’t provide lessons. When they come to us in Year 7, less than one percent have learned an instrument before.

“For a time, we did charge for instrumental lessons as our school budget was so tight. But we immediately saw 75 percent of our students on free school meals could no longer attend.

“That drove us to ensure that every child could learn an instrument here for free. Around one in five children now have instrumental lessons. And our free school meal students are just as likely to attend as any other child.”

“Once they start to learn an instrument, there are opportunities within the school to take that further. Our choir is well attended, and the school’s ‘Flexi Band’ is fully inclusive. Students can bring any instrument at any learning level and join in.

“The benefits are so wide ranging. Yes, it’s the dexterity and skill of learning an instrument. But it’s also the psychological benefits. We have high levels of mental health needs and many vulnerable students. There are some who are likely to have been permanently excluded, but their love of music kept them coming to school.”

“Every child who’s learning an instrument can progress to GCSE. 14 percent of students do, more than twice the national average. And again, we see no gap in uptake between free school meal children and their peers. Because they have had that equal opportunity from the beginning. Our students are now progressing to music’s most prestigious institutions and having careers in music.”