![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/uks-first-school-set-up-in-partnership-with-orchestra-opens/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/131080314_neilp120230912_1407b.jpg&description=Image source, BBC/Neil Paton Image caption, The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's musicians held a workshop highlighting the importance of teamwork in an entertaining way The UK's first new school to be partnered with a professional orchestra has opened its doors to pupils. Shireland CBSO Academy and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra offer pupils weekly workshops, performances and masterclasses and free instrumental tuition for at least two years. Orchestra head Emma Stenning told the BBC there is "a crisis in music education in schools". The Department for Education said it is "committed" to education in music. "We remain committed to ensuring that every young person has access to a high quality music education," it told the BBC. The brand new state school is in a former office block in Sandwell, one of England's most deprived boroughs. It opened with 138 year sevens on 5 September, with more joining in the next few weeks. The BBC is the first media to be invited in since the academy started its new term. Image source, BBC/Neil Paton Image caption, Shireland CBSO Academy in West Bromwich is Britain's first school to partner with a professional orchestra A state-of-the-art performance hall is being built, with ridged acoustic panelling and angled walls to ensure the best sound quality. Music is also embedded into the academy curriculum. Image source, BBC/Neil Paton Image caption, Pupils at Shireland CBSO Academy learning West African drumming Pupils studying the great fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, for example, learn how an understanding of music and rhythm can help them decipher the Morse code. Principal David Green said the school follows the national curriculum. "We are a completely normal school," he said. "We have French, Art, Maths, Science - all the things you'd expect, but we have this really special partnership with the CBSO, which is giving these students a level of musical opportunity they just wouldn't get elsewhere". Image source, BB){kind=link}
The UK’s first new school to be partnered with a professional orchestra has opened its doors to pupils.
Shireland CBSO Academy and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra offer pupils weekly workshops, performances and masterclasses and free instrumental tuition for at least two years.
Orchestra head Emma Stenning told the BBC there is “a crisis in music education in schools”.
The Department for Education said it is “committed” to education in music.
“We remain committed to ensuring that every young person has access to a high quality music education,” it told the BBC.