Essa Academy teams up with Andrew Lloyd Webber's charity

Studies show that pupils who learn a musical instrument are more likely to get better exam grades than those who don't.

And Year Seven pupils at Essa Academy in Great Lever are all learning a musical instrument thanks to a charity founded by Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

In a special ceremony the pupils received the instrument, which they will keep for three years.

Pupil Muhammad Mahmood with his mother and guest Hussnain Hanif (Image: Essa Academy)

The instruments were funded by the Music in Secondary Schools Trust (MISST), which was started by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Headteacher Martin Knowles, said: "It is not just about learning music, but benefitting other aspects of learning.

"It creates confidence, stage presence and a sense of achievement.

"Essa Academy is a school in a northern mill town and this is something which has been given to us by Andrew Lloyd Webber, through his charity which predominantly operates in London, because of what we have achieved as a school, being recognised nationally.

"To provide every Year Seven in school with an instrument is unheard of, for free, with tuition. It very well could be life-changing."

Fatima Hussain performed a piece on her violin during the ceremony.

Mr Knowles said: "In the competitive world that we live, it is to give our young people an edge.

Two pupils with their new instruments (Image: Essa Academy)

"So when they do job interviews and get into the world of work, they not only have good qualifications like GCSEs, but additional learning experiences.

"You look at little Fatima, the performance she put on, and that was just one year form picking up the violin." 

Pupil Poppy Sellers, said: "I'm very excited, I've never played the trumpet before and I'm excited to learn something new that will be tricky, but I'll get through it and it will make my brain work better."

Conal Duffy, head of performing arts at Essa Academy, organised much of the programme with MISST. 

He said: "This is giving everyone a chance to become a musician, as well as building teamwork and resilience.

"The biggest barrier to that is not having an instrument, as schools can't afford to do this. 

"Amid a cost of living crisis, who can afford to own an instrument?"

He added: "It is all planned out centrally by Andrew Lloyd Webber's team. They will do the theory of music, learning to read music, studying famous composers and then learning how to perform, both as soloists and as an ensemble." 

Emily, Tiara and Hibba with their new instruments (Image: Essa Academy)

Hussnain Hanif, a Nasheed artist and BBC broadcaster, helped to hand out the instruments.

He said: "I inherently believe that if you study music and play an instrument, it will help you get better grades.

"I was in these students' position about 15 years ago, I would have loved to have had instrument. 

"I would be a much better musician now if I had, but it is great that these students are getting that opportunity."