New & Campaigns

ISM member

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of The Harpur Trust and found in favour of ISM member Lesley Brazel regarding holiday pay.

The Supreme Court judgment will impact not only on the holiday pay of visiting music teachers, but also on holiday pay rights for thousands of others who work term-time only. In dismissing the Harpur Trust’s appeal, The Supreme Court has unanimously backed the ISM’s interpretation of holiday pay law.

Read more on page 9 and on the ISM website.

ISM issues new

music education workforce

The ISM has released a major new report on challenges facing the music education workforce.

The case for change: The music education workforce in 2022 examines the working conditions of the music education workforce and makes positive recommendations for improving workplace conditions.

The report includes data from an ISM survey of peripatetic teachers working in schools across the UK, has taken hold over the past 20 years, with 72% of peripatetic teachers engaged on insecure zero-hours respect for this part of the workforce in schools, further education and higher education settings.

casualisation, which has resulted in many teachers being confused regarding their employment status and a lack of access to professional development. ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts said ‘The report The case for change of professional respect for our music education workforce. It’s clear that steps must be taken to improve condition, practices and pay for this sector.’

of music to

The long-awaited National Plan for Music Education (NPME) Titled The power of music to change lives, it has been broadly welcomed across the music education sector.

that music should be a key part of the curriculum, with a clear statement that Key Stages 1-3 should have at least one hour of ‘high quality’ curriculum music per week. This is something the ISM has been campaigning on for years.

The Plan is also silent onthe continuing negative effects of the EBacc and Progress 8 measures on music in schools.

Read more about the ISM’s response to the Plan resources on our ism.org/npme-national-plan-formusic-education.

Times Education Commission

The Times Education Commission has produced investigation into the education system.

Its recommendations include the critical suggestion to make music an essential part of students’ school experience, stating that, ‘sport, music, drama, art, debating and dance should be an integral part of the timetable for all children, not an optional “extracurricular” add on’.

Its boldest recommendations include a slimmed-down replacing A-levels with a ‘British Baccalaureate’, which would be based on the international baccalaureate. This idea importantly includes units on creativity.

ISM Chief Executive, Deborah Annetts, said, ‘The report is clear that music should be an integral part of students’ school experience, which we wholeheartedly agree with. The “British Baccalaureate” idea includes units on creativity, which are missing from the current policy of the “EBacc”.’

The ISM’s work on Brexit continues.

As touring resumes following issues facing UK musicians have come to the forefront.

Responding to a report that found bookings of UK acts at European festivals have fallen by 45%, ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts said, ‘this needless bureaucracy creativity of the next generation of British musicians’.

We have launched a new survey asking those who are ISM members and others working across the music touring sector to share their experiences and thoughts with us. The survey is available on the ISM website (ism.org/campaigns/surveys) and will inform an upcoming report on how the UK’s departure from the EU has impacted those working in music.

restrictPernambuco

A new proposal from Brazil to move Pernambuco wood to CITES Appendix I is threatening the movement of bows worldwide.

The vast majority of stringed instrument bows are made from Pernambuco and the proposal would require CITES permits for all trade and movement of Pernambuco bows and bow blanks. The ISM, together with other music organisations, is in discussion with the government about this and will be lobbying for exemptions to allow legal trade in bows to continue.

The Act exempts pre-1975 musical instruments and their accessories which contain less than 20% ivory by volume. It also does not apply to mammoth ivory, commonly used for bow tips.

before travelling with an exempted item.

MICs are currently free and last for three years. They must be stamped by customs at a designated CITES port upon leaving or entering both registration service for this, which costs £20 per item, or you can apply by post. If you plan to buy or hire an instrument or bow containing ivory, be aware that both the buyer and the seller are responsible for checking that it is exempt from the Ivory Act.

See the ISM’s guide to whether you need an MIC and how to apply in the advice section of our website, ism.org.