Case Study:
The Royal Academy of Music

Applications from state schools have increased from 11.4% to 18.3% since implementing Bridge Group recommendations

The Royal Academy of Music is one of the world’s leading conservatoires with an unswerving focus on musical excellence and innovation. It also has a strong commitment to recruiting a more diverse student body. Actions to support this include outreach programmes and means-tested bursaries.

The Academy commissioned the Bridge Group to research effective bursary design and administration nationally and internationally; and to make recommendations for the further development of its own means-tested financial support. The brief also included advice on how to grow the pipeline of applicants from less advantaged backgrounds.

Registrar Catherine Jury and Dean of Students Liz Kenny reported that the Academy received the recommendations well. Applications from state schools have since increased from 11.4% to 18.3%, and new entrants from state schools have gone up from 9.7% to 14.0%. They noted that this makes a big difference in a small student body like the Academy’s.

“We’re now reaching up to 1,000 students in our widening participation activity. The report has helped us shape this work.”

Recommendations relating to clarity of communication were all implemented, ensuring that information for applicants and students was more readily available, was timely, and that the different types of financial support were clearly and accurately named. Liz commented: “[Access to financial information] is much clearer now. There’s more coherent access to key documentation. This is all part of a more stable support environment.”

The Bridge Group identified low-cost adjustments to the Academy’s financial support. Liz noted that “Switching from a fee waiver to a cash bursary was a simple and effective change to make”. It brought the Academy more in line with other comparable institutions. Catherine added “Another quick win was providing support to attend auditions. This was a simple change, but a very important one.”

The Bridge Group report recommended directing resource to a new post to make the most effective use of current financial support and proactively to reach out to current and potential students. Catherine reported that this post, the Student Funding Manager, “… is bedding in really well. [This role is] located in Registry, with a clear understanding of the admissions process, so is able to work with students before they apply as well as once they are with us. There’s a big impact from continuing that support into study.”

Recommendations relating to outreach also focused on ways to maximise the impact of existing provision, in particular the Junior Academy, through for example a financial education programme for its students.

“Mobilising Junior Academy as a pipeline is a strategy where outcomes are already becoming apparent”, said Liz. “Where previously most of our Junior Academy students attended private schools, that figure has now dropped to closer to 50%.”

Liz added “We’re now reaching up to 1,000 students in our widening participation activity. The report has helped us shape this work.”

September 2023