Royal Academy of Music criticised for excluding private school students from fully funded Foundation Year

With support from the Duffield Foundation, the Royal Academy of Music is offering a fully funded Foundation Year to musicians aged 18–20.

The reason this initiative has been widely discussed in recent days is that it is open only to state school students. This means that students who attend private schools are not eligible to apply, as they are considered to have had more advantages compared to those in the state system.

The aim of the Royal Academy of Music is to make studying at a conservatoire more accessible to everyone, by providing training and support to students from financially challenging backgrounds as they prepare for conservatoire auditions.

The programme not only covers the full cost of the Foundation Year, but also offers a living cost bursary of £16,500, along with additional financial support. This may include help with purchasing an instrument, if needed, and accommodation at the University of London.

While many people agree that it is important to prioritise opportunities like this for young people facing financial difficulties, it also raises an important question: does attending a private school necessarily mean that all students are financially secure and able to afford studying at the Royal Academy of Music?

Let us know what you think in the comments.