One of Cardiff’s best performing schools has dropped is dropping GCSE music against a backdrop of city-wide budget cuts. The option for year 10s to start the GCSE music course in September won’t be available at Corpus Christi Catholic High, which is known for its excellent standard of music.
Parents said music was on the GCSE option list for year nines choosing subjects for next year and year 11, but was then removed at short notice. Schools and teaching unions have been warning that subjects will be cut and jobs lost as a result of rising prices and what are effectively real-terms budget cuts.
Last week one Cardiff headteacher warned education was being “diminished. Huw Powell from Mary Immaculate RC High said good teachers would be lost and pupil support as well as options would reduce.
Read more: Schools in Cardiff face 'considerable deficits' and children’s education will suffer, warns headteacher
It is understood that Corpus Christi needed 15 children to opt for music in year 10 for the two year GCSE course starting in September, but only around eight applied. Parents whose children are affected said they have complained to the school and one said she is even considering “reluctantly” changing her child’s school.
“My child is really upset and told me: “they’ve taken away my career choice”. The reputation of the school is partly to do with its music department, so I can’t understand.
“These types of cuts will be affecting many more children across the city and I feel very strongly about it.”
She was speaking after Cardiff Council warned several factors have contributed to “a level of financial uncertainty and challenge for all schools across the city, that they would not have experienced for many years”. The true picture won’t be known until early May when budgets have to be reported.
The mother, who did not want to be identified incase of repercussions, said her child excelled at music, wanted to study it at GCSE and beyond as well as being actively involved in music and orchestras in and outside school.
“People say “it’s just music” but it’s more than that for many children . It’s part of their identity and a subject they’re good at. Music is an important subject that’s given short shrift. They told us they need 15 pupils to run GCSE music and they don’t have that for next year.
“I understand it is because the local education authority has told them they need to make cuts and absorb cost increases. That meant they had had to take the decision on the provision of subjects offered.
“They are shutting the door on children who also want to do music post-16 by doing this. For my child it’s the subject they are likely to excel in. Music has given my child so much confidence. Music should not be seen as a niche subject. It is important on so many levels.
“Corpus Christi is a good school but we are having on going discussions and need to look at whether my child will need to move schools to do music GCSE. That instability is not something we take lightly but if that’s the route we have to take we will. But are other schools providing music GCSE and do they have places?.”
Speaking on behalf of the school a Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “Optional subjects which run alongside compulsory GCSE subjects, are delivered when the take up from pupils is great enough. It is not unique for a school to make this decision if the number of pupils opting for a subject is very low, ensuring that they make the best use of resources.
“Should a pupil wish to study for a GCSE qualification independently, then the school will look to facilitate this.”
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