South West Music School

South West Music School is a Centre of Advanced Training (CAT) and a music charity working with talented young instrumentalists, singers and composers aged 8 – 18 years in the South West of England. Due to the geographical nature of the South West, we are not building based but are a ‘virtual’ school working with young people on an individual basis in their local area.

South West Music School is part of a national network of Centres of Advanced Training supported by the Department for Education Music and Dance Scheme for exceptionally talented young musicians. Funding provided by the DfE ensures that each student has adequate resources to undertake involvement with SWMS and that all costs are met according to need.

South West Music School (SWMS) provides students with the same standard of music education as specialist music schools and junior conservatoires. The additional benefit of SWMS is that it allows students to stay in their existing education and continue to take part in other current musical (and non-musical) activities in their local communities.

Since its inception in 2007, SWMS has grown from 15 students in its first year to 99 students in 2015-16. SWMS now runs four programmes to suit a variety of needs, interests and levels of experience. All programmes are inclusive and open to all regardless of personal background. We are also musically inclusive – designed to identify and nurture exceptional instrumental, vocal and composition talent from all areas of music. The only restriction to our programmes is the need to possess high levels of musicianship and commitment.