All Devon & Torbay maintained schools and academies benefit from 100% subsidised access to instruments and resources to support the delivery of Whole Class Ensemble Tuition (WCET) and projects – over 15,000 instruments have been loaned to schools over the last year allowing thousands of children and young people to take the first steps in their musical journey. A wide range of digital resources to support WCET can be accessed using Charanga Music School, which is provided on a 100% subsidised basis to all Devon & Torbay maintained primary and special schools and academies. Additional support can often be provided by the Music Development Lead for your area and the Hub provides regular CPD opportunities for instrumental and curriculum practitioners.
Booking your WCET instruments
Devon and Torbay maintained schools and academies can borrow one instrument class set (WCET) each term free of charge. Additional sets are charged at £100 (plus VAT for academies and Torbay maintained schools). Instruments can be booked for longer periods by arrangement. Delivery and collection of instrument class sets is provided.
Private schools and those from other Local Authority areas can also borrow instrument class sets, and these are also charged at £100 (plus VAT for LA schools), but delivery and collection is not included.
All bookings are subject to availability of stock: Whole Class Ensemble Teaching Availability Table.
Click here for WCET Terms and Conditions
- To facilitate the recommended 10-week WCET programme we will aim to deliver your class set of
instruments by the end of the first full week of term and collect, no sooner than the last full week of
term – this may involve the school storing instrument sets over the holiday period. We will always
do our best to avoid key dates such as performances and non-pupil days, but you must let us know
in response to our regular email following half term. - A signature will be required upon delivery and if there are no staff available a photograph of the
delivered instruments will be taken as proof of delivery. Please make sure reception staff are
available as our driver can only wait for a maximum of 10 minutes before leaving for the the next
school. All deliveries will be made to and collected from reception only. - All instruments MUST remain in school with the exception of performance events. Pupils are not
permitted to take instruments home under this scheme. Instruments should be stored in a safe and
secure place and schools are responsible for any loss or damage of instruments. - All instruments and accessories must be returned in good condition, allowing for a degree of wear
& tear from usage. Schools/settings are liable for replacement/repair costs where damage is
deemed excessive. - All instruments and accessories must be ready for collection (in the correct cases where applicable)
on the date agreed, from one location. If upon collection the Hub discover any missing items, the
school must locate and return these within a maximum of two weeks to avoid being invoiced for the
replacement cost. - Devon Music Education Hub reserves the right to recall instruments, with appropriate notice, for a
short time for key events such as The Mix festival in the summer term. - Class sets are available as advertised, with no alterations to quantity or type of instruments, unless
otherwise stated and agreed by Devon Music Education Hub. - Please check all instruments on receipt and advise us immediately of any missing or damaged
items, otherwise your school may be charged at the end of the loan period. - Please inform us with at least 3 days’ notice if you wish to cancel or amend your delivery or
collection. If our driver is unable to deliver or collect instruments, you may be charged.
In the meantime, if you need to amend or cancel your booking, please reply to this email or phone
01392 287235.
WCET Instrument class set maintenance guides
Our team work really hard to prepare each instrument class set, ensuring that it is clean, well-maintained and provided with everything you need.
Please look after our instruments while they are at your school and return them to us in the condition that they were provided – any damage, missing instruments or accessories may incur a charge.
To assist you, we have put together a series of WCET maintenance guides with helpful information about each instrument class set.
View maintenance guidesBespoke loans
Additional to the Whole Class sets available for booking, we do offer and prepare requests for smaller collections of instruments for specific uses. Schools, Ensembles, Hub supported activities, music educators and more, have found this to be a useful way to promote instrumental uptake, or as a solution when you have that special event, and you need to borrow something specific for a short time.
Examples often include the below, and we are happy to discuss any request not listed on receipt of a Bespoke Loan form.
- Small set (suggested up to 10 (quantity can be discussed) of orchestral instruments (Strings, Brass and Woodwind)
- First access set (subject to availability) for use in a short-term event or project
- A collection of Orchestral Percussion for an event or school show (See specialist list for more details)
- Specialist Brass and Woodwind instruments for a performance, event, or school show (see Specialist list for more details)
- Electrical equipment such as Stage Pianos, Amps Microphones and PA
- Music Stands
- We also have a music library with sheet music for Orchestra, Jazz, Vocal, Strings, and Wind Band ensembles and more. We also have a range of the very popular Flex-Band music to suit any combination of instruments. Contact us for a catalogue (this is being updated continuously).
Many can be offered free of charge or for a small fee, for an agreed period to support local organisations such as schools, Hub supported activities, performance venues and individual music educators.
View bespoke equipment and instruments Apply for bespoke loanEarly Years Music instruments and equipment
Devon Music Education Hub are offering a new range of specialist early years musical instruments and equipment, available to loan on termly basis, free of charge to schools, settings and Hub partner organisations. Each set has been specially curated to enable younger children to explore sound and music. While every care has been taken to ensure the suitability of all equipment, we recommend that younger children are always appropriately supervised.
All bookings are subject to availability of stock: Early Years Availability Table.
View Early Years Music Sets Apply for Early Years Music Set loan