RENFREWSHIRE Council has welcomed a decision to give all school pupils free music lessons over the next 12 months.

The Scottish Government announced that £7million will be made available to councils so children can learn instruments such as the piano, flute or guitar.

A further £6m is being ringfenced so schools don’t have to charge pupils for materials needed for their home economics, art and science lessons.

Children will also get free calculators and the cost of theatre trips associated with drama exams will be met.

Renfrewshire Council has been providing free music lessons for the last four years but said the extra cash will be put to good use.

Councillor Jim Paterson, education convener, added: “We welcome this additional funding.

“Since 2017, Renfrewshire Council has invested funding into the music tuition service to ensure that all pupils have free access to it and we have worked hard to minimise charges for things like home economics.”

The £13m funding package follows discussions with the Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), which represents all 32 councils across the country.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “All children should have the best start in life – and the ability to take part in core elements of education should never be limited by a child’s ability to pay.”