The Royal College of Music has launched a plan to restrict access to state-educated students, raising concerns that some students at less affluent private schools will be excluded, The Times reported.Founded in 1822, the college offers fully funded preparatory courses for musicians aged 18 to 20. The course targets those considered underrepresented, particularly students who may have missed out on musical training due to chronic reductions in public school funding.Only five students are selected each year for the program, which begins in July. Those selected will receive individual tuition, academic mentoring, overall training and university application support.School leaders have questioned the eligibility rules, saying background cannot be judged purely based on the type of school a student attends. “There are a lot of less well-off people in private schools and a lot of privileged people in state schools,” said Philip Britton, noting that some schools, including Bolton School, offer full tuition support to families earning less than £20,000.Richard Jones, headteacher of Bryanston School in Dorset, described the approach as “childish” and said it could reinforce assumptions about private education. He noted that many private schools have students receiving bursaries and said applications should be reviewed individually.The academy defended its position. The school’s principal, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, said the focus was on students who “urgently need and deserve” support, particularly those who have not had adequate access to training but show strong potential.Funding for the first three years comes from the Clore Duffield Foundation. Its chairman Vivien Duffield said the scheme aims to provide talented young musicians with the time, training and guidance they need to progress further.The academy said students from private schools were more likely to have received a structured music education. It also highlighted its wider work, supporting more than 500 young people every year and providing £5.8 million in financial aid to students last year.
