Is it annoying when kids are taken out of your class for music lessons?

[Forwardthinkingbarnacle]

Just curious! I’m a visiting violin teacher and my students are on a rota (so they don’t miss the same lesson too often) and every care is put in place to ensure the least possible disruption. As a class teacher, how disruptive do you find it when a kid is taken out for 30 minutes? I’ve had a couple of run-ins with unhappy teachers in the past over taking a kid out of their lesson, but on the whole teachers have been supportive. I can also totally understand the other point of view and just wondered how disruptive it really is from the other perspective. I like to think that music has a positive effect on other subject as it really does require maths, fine motor skills and intense concentration!

It's difficult when children are taken out of lessons for various things. It would be ok if it was the odd child for a music lesson, but in my school, they are in and out all the time for interventions, cooking, music, medicines, times tables, this that and the other.

If they have missed 2 chapters of a book that they need to know for the next day, or they have missed the input and then come back not knowing what to do, you have to split yourself in two and try to catch them up whilst also working with your group you planned to work with etc. Books get scrutinised so you have to remember to write in their book, that they were out, so that you don't questioned as to why they didn't do any work that day. But all the same, it's not the fault of the music teacher, or intervention teachers.

I teach secondary science. No, I don't find it annoying or disruptive.

Our school change the peri lesson times each half term so that it doesn't hit the same lesson for the whole year which I think is useful.

I think the value of music lessons can often be overlooked.

Partner is a music teacher and I really see the joy it can bring teachers and pupils alike!

Sorry, that was a long way of saying 'not to your question!

Yes, the pupils dip out for half an hour and it always seems to be English and maths so then they come back having no idea what to do and you have to reteach the lesson instead of supporting the ones already there.

It would help if music lessons were only in the afternoon but I think the music teachers work across lots of schools so it has to happen somewhere - it is valuable but only those with disposable income really access it (even though it can be subsidised on UC) and I feel it should be an out of school thing if not for the whole or half class groups.

It is quite annoying, especially as the music lesson always seem to fall during an assessment! I know it can't be helped but it is a lot of extra work for the class teacher to organise the catch up.

Honestly? Yes it is annoying ( primary here) especially when they arrive back into the lesson just as the input has finished and pupils are settling down to a task. Rather than supporting a group you have to catch them up. However I see the enjoyment and know the value of those lessons so we all grin and bear it I suppose

Very mildly. Luckily most of mine who do music lessons are ones who are pretty capable of catching up with a task when they come back even if they missed the input so that helps. I also just don't sweat it - we offer music lessons so it is inevitable there might be gaps in a child's book if they go out. I work in a very reasonable school though! I think it's great children have the opportunity to learn an instrument and will sign my own children up when the time comes.

Yes! They either miss all the input, or you do all the input with them and then they don't do the work that goes with it! I have kids that learn 2-3 instruments and do LAMDA and they're hardly ever in class...
It's for this reason I've found my daughter a piano teacher after school.

At my secondary school we avoid taking students out of core subjects: English, Maths and Science. I'm a HLTA.
Its not ideal but just this week I had to take students out for:
Dyslexia assessment
SEND sports trip for 5 students
To sign for Exam Access Arrangements (yr11)
Brilliant Club

And many more that I can't remember!
I do apologise to the teachers and I try to email in advance.

I benefitted massively from music lessons at school, but yes as a teacher, currently year 2, it's an absolute pain. I have a class who are tricky to settle and keep on task. When the music teacher comes in to get the student, it can be very disruptive. The child then comes back having missed the input and doesn't know how to do the work, which can upset things again. Given they are paid for, I'm beginning to feel they should be done after school, rather than in curriculum time, since we have so much pressure on us for getting the kids through that. But that is obviously not the fault of the music teacher.

No. Not at all. That said, dd2’s instrumental teacher moves the lessons around weekly so it’s not always the same lessons impacted. Not sure if that’s the case at my school.

One teacher refused to let dd2 go a lesson once. I was absolutely furious. She was even threatened with a detention when she was upset (she was worried we’d be upset to waste the money bless her). A very strongly worded email followed along with an apology from a member of SLT (a music teacher).

It's annoying but it's worth it for them to have music lessons.

Yes I find it annoying! Plus LAMDA, Elsa, Learning support etc - it’s like a conveyer belt of kids coming in and out! However I don’t blame the teachers doing it, and I understand it’s just how it is. However, I always made sure my own children’s music lessons were out of school.

Not really bothered as I don't organise any catching up for them. They have to do that themselves.

It's not just music lessons. It's maths and English intervention, lamda, play rehearsals, football tournaments, learning support, anxiety traffic lights etc. Our pay is linked to our exam performance - it shouldn't be but we 'aspire' (is the current appraisal lingo).