A glowing report by Education Scotland on Raploch’s Big Noise children’s orchestra has been hailed as a big boost for the charity set up to bring a Sistema Scotland project to Dundee.
High attendance and the exceptional achievement of many participants are highlighted in the report which says Big Noise “boosts the confidence, ambition and life chances of the children taking part.”
Inspectors saw innovative practice they wish to explore further and share around the country at Raploch, which is overseen by the charity Sistema Scotland in partnership with Stirling Council.
Dundee’s Optimistic Sound, which was set up following the death of Michael Marra, is currently fundraising towards their target of establishing a children’s orchestra in Dundee and see the report as grounds for optimism for their aims.
Michael Marra’s nephew, also Michael, one of the partners in Optimistic Sound said: “This excellent HMI report is further evidence of the huge impact a Big Noise orchestra will have in Dundee.
“The three projects in operation across Scotland are subject to the same rigorous inspection regimes as local government education.
“This ensures excellent standards of care, child safety and content of teaching. The broader social impact is obvious.
“Children who take part in Sistema are more confident and achieve more. We can’t wait to see the project making a difference in Dundee.
“The fundraising is progressing extremely well with a huge amount of community support, we’re also continuing discussions with the council over the coming months to lock down a final plan.”
Launched in 2008, the project is inspired by Venezuela’s El Sistema movement to achieve wider social aims through music.
Sistema Scotland chief executive Nicola Killean said: “We very much welcome these findings which illustrate the distinctive nature of the work.
“Our most obvious triumphs may be musical, but we are here to equip the children with resilience and confidence to succeed across all areas of their lives.”
The team from Education Scotland spent a week in Raploch, observing Big Noise at work and talking to children, parents and partners.
Reporters acknowledged the charity can improve in terms of working with school staff to develop approaches to learning and teaching, planning, assessing and reporting children and young people’s achievements in music and in relation to other skills for life and work and engage more fully with other community partners.
However overall the report highlighted the many benefits the programme has in developing life skills in pupils through music.
Ms Killean added: “This report illustrates that this investment in children’s futures goes beyond providing a good musical experience to equip the children with transferable life skills.
“Sistema Scotland believes that will save society a great deal of money in the long term.”