Parents revolt over move to select pupils by musical ability

A LEADING state school headteacher faces a revolt from parents over plans to reserve 10 per cent of places for gifted musicians.

Aydin Önaç, head of popular Fortismere School in Muswell Hill, insists the move does not represent a shift towards grammar-style academic selection.

But parents are outraged at the idea, which they fear will lead to the school losing its community ethos as more places go to talented music students from outside the area.

Some believe an increasingly "elitist" culture is in operation. One mother said: "All the places you give to music students you take away from other children. This is the first step away from having a community comprehensive."

Another parent said children of "average" ability "feel that they're not wanted". But Mr Önaç, a concert-standard pianist, said Fortismere's plans would benefit all pupils by fostering a culture of musical excellence.

The proposals, which are yet to be agreed, would see up to 24 out of 243 pupils selected on the basis of musical aptitude tests. Mr Önaç said the tests were not auditions but were designed to identify musical potential in any child, rather than to find the most accomplished 11-year-old violinists.

"It is simply and solely about promoting musical excellence and creating opportunities for young people to develop their talents. It is no more cynical than that," he said. "For me it is a personal issue because I have got a strong background in music. We believe this will help raise standards in music for all in the school, through higher quality orchestras, ensembles and choirs."

Mr Önaç accepted that reserving places for talented potential musicians was likely to lead to more pupils from outside the school's catchment area. "My judgment is that at least half of them will already be in the catchment area. We are probably talking about a handful of students from outside the zone."

If the proposal is agreed, it would come into force in September next year.

Fortismere is the best comprehensive in Haringey and one of London's most oversubscribed. A maths and music specialist school, it gets about 1,200 applications for 243 places. Estate agents have estimated parents pay 20 per cent more for a house in the catchment area than for one slightly farther afield.

Mr Önaç has faced opposition previously from parents who disagree with his approach. Some attacked moves to teach in sets rather than mixed-ability classes, and to make Fortismere a foundation school, free of council control over land, salaries and admissions.

The new row highlights tensions inherent in Labour's policy of giving specialist schools the right to select one in 10 pupils on the basis of "aptitude" for a particular discipline.