Singing ban in schools partially lifted

Education minister Peter Weir has partially reversed a decision to allow children in schools to sing and play instruments indoors.

The guidance initially provided to schools on 1 April on their return was that no indoor singing or playing of brass or woodwind instruments would be allowed to take place, on advice from the Public Health Agency that both represented an increased risk of Covid 19 transmission.

In a letter sent to school principals on Wednesday, the minister said that music students will be allowed to perform as part of GCSE and A Level assessments only.

“You will be aware that in my letter to you of 1 April, I stated that no indoor singing or playing of wind or brass instruments should take place on school premises,” the statement said.

“This decision took account of public health and scientific advice on this issue. As part of the Executive’s measured and cautious approach, singing and the playing of woodwind and brass instruments were identified as being potentially more likely to facilitate transmission of the virus.” 

“My Department has continued to engage with the Department of Health on this issue and I can confirm that pupils taking a practical music assessment for GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications that requires singing or the playing of a woodwind or brass instrument will now be permitted to do so indoors.

“This can be done providing suitable mitigations are in place such as ensuring suitable social distancing and that rooms are well ventilated.” 

“The EA is urgently reviewing its guidance for its Music Service and the appropriate mitigations will be included within this guidance in order to ensure that the safe resumption of music provision can take place as soon as possible.”

Head of Music at Omagh Academy Rachel Bingham welcomed the decision, but expressed frustration at the previous guidance from the Department.

“This is a major shift in the guidance as to what we were told a fortnight ago, so we’re really delighted that our kids will get what they deserve. We are very thankful to all of those who listened to our concerns and acted on it,” Rachel said.

“We are now looking forward to a full return to all our instrumental tuition, which is hopefully very soon.”

“The  guidance has given us a stricter set of rules than were put in place in September. Then we were able to sing, but had to be front-facing, remain 2-3 metres apart and install perspex screens in the classroom.”

More than 400 music teachers and professionals had penned a letter to the Department calling for the ban to be lifted.