define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true); Gavin Clark, Head Teacher - Scottish Schools Pipes & Drums Trust

Gavin Clark, Head Teacher

“The Preston Lodge Pipe Band has grown quickly from a tentative group of new players into the flourishing figurehead of our school and its community.”

  • Learning in Schools

    Learning in Schools
    The Trust helps to extend and sustain piping and drumming in Scotland's state schools, with a focus on remote and disadvantaged areas. We supported 3,750 pupils in over 270 schools last year. More partnerships are pending, and new enquiries are welcome.

  • About

    About
    Resilience and teamwork, perseverance and confidence - these are just some of the transferable life skills that pupils develop when they play in a pipe band, along with a sense of pride and belonging within the school and community. Widening opportunities to learn the pipes and drums in schools also helps, on a national scale, to safeguard Scotland’s unique cultural heritage.

  • Grants

    Grants
    Apply for single and multi-year cash grants towards piping and drumming tuition, as well as other costs such as drums or travel.

  • Free Instrument Loans

    Free Instrument Loans
    SSPDT lends bagpipes, b-flat concert chanters, and electronic chanters to schools and other organisations, free of charge.

  • Moray Schools Tuition Scheme

    Moray Schools Tuition Scheme
    NEW Moray schools piping and drumming tuition programme offers pupils in primary and secondary schools the chance to learn the pipes and drums during the school day.

  • The Championships

    The Championships
    65 bands, quartets for beginners, and freestyle for a fusion of instruments and music... it's the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships! Join us on Sunday 10 March 2024 in Kilmarnock.

  • Music Enterprise Award

    Music Enterprise Award
    Helping young pipers to earn their first set of pipes, and build skills for work and life.

  • Paid Internships

    Paid Internships
    SSPDT’s paid year-long internships offer training to pipers and snare drummers, and are a proven gateway to teaching careers in schools.

  • Paid Internships

    Paid Internships
    SSPDT’s paid year-long internships offer training to pipers and snare drummers, and are a proven gateway to teaching careers in schools.

  • Learning Hub

    Learning Hub
    SSPDT has co-created 55 new piping and drumming teaching roles in schools, so far. We provide networking, professional development events and resources for piping and drumming tutors working in schools.

  • Donate

    Donate

  • Social Media

    Social Media
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What we do

SSPDT work across Scotland