New Study Suggests School Pipe Band Membership Can Help Close Scotland’s Attainment Gap.

A new ten-year study shows young pipers and drummers are outperforming their school mates in exams.

The research centres on pupil players who have taken part in a piping programme at an East Lothian high school.

All 78 pipe band members between 2014-2024 were tracked from final exams through to higher education and employment and all of them have had better outcomes that the national averages.

The piping scheme at Preston Lodge High School in Prestonpans is supported by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust.

SSPDT Chief Executive Lindsay MacKenzie said: “One of the most encouraging things to come out of this study is the fact that even youngsters from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are flying high too.

“It is proving beyond doubt that pipe bands at school can really help bridge the attainment gap at a time when national statistics show the gap to be widening.”

 

KEY FINDINGS

Key findings of the study include:

• 52% of pipe band members attained five or more Highers, compared to 39% nationally and 27% overall at Preston Lodge.

• 41% left school with one or more Advanced Highers, compared with the national average of 18.7%.

The impact was even greater for pupils from the two most deprived SIMD quintiles (1 & 2), suggesting that pipe band participation can help close Scotland’s growing attainment gap:

• 45% achieved three or more Highers, compared to 38.2% nationally.
• 40% attained one or more Advanced Highers, compared to just 10.5% nationally.

 

MEASURING IMPACT

With three pipe bands, over 100 band members and an additional 100 learners through its feeder primary schools, music is at the heart of school life at Preston Lodge High.

Head Teacher Gavin Clark emphasised the transformational effect of piping and drumming on pupils: “It is impossible to overestimate the impact that piping and drumming has had at Preston Lodge High School.

“Our Pipe Band has grown significantly over the past two decades from a tentative group of new players in 2007, into the flourishing figurehead of our school and its community it is today.

“While we’ve always known that our young people of all ages and abilities, across the primary and secondary sector, have benefited immeasurably from the skill development and self-esteem building that piping and drumming can provide; we now have evidence which indicates that pipe band participation has also had a significant impact on their attainment at school.

“What’s more, all these pupils have gone on to achieve positive destinations in work, training or further education.”

The skills honed through pipe band participation are also highly valued in higher education and professional life as Roderick Paisley, Piper and Professor of Scots Law at the University of Aberdeen explained:

“As well as improving attainment, participation in a pipe band helps students gain essential skills for study at university or college and subsequent work.

“Pipers and drummers are often more mature, dedicated and hardworking than their peers and they gain personal confidence enabling them to take on difficult tasks and to deal with other people of all ages.

“The best thing about participation in a pipe band is that all this is learned in an enjoyable way and it sets up pipers and drummers for life.”

 

ALMUNI PERSPECTIVES

Feedback from former band members also supports the study’s findings:

• “What made it special was the way that we all worked together and got along, regardless of our background, home life etc. It was looked at as a place where many could escape from anything that was going on at home and just have fun and really enjoy what you were doing. Our tutors always ensured it was a safe place for us!” – Kerilee Doran, Children’s Nursery Manager.

 

• “Playing in a Pipe Band helped me throughout my school life but also as an adult now. As I am still playing. I have a shared interest with likeminded people who I have great relationships with and who I class as friends. Similarly, in school, band was an outlet away from schoolwork and something that individuals from lots of different backgrounds could come together and play wonderful music. It increased my confidence in many ways, and it is a no brainer to have a pipe band in a school if there’s an opportunity to!” – Hannah Yorkston, High School Teacher.

 

• “The band’s strength is its people, who will always go the extra mile for each other. Be it tutors, pupils or parents: the friendships and opportunities that come from the band impact us for the rest of our lives and go far beyond playing any instrument. The band is simultaneously a friendship group, a learning experience, a safe space and support network, a chance to travel, an outlet for emotion, a self-discipline builder and a music group. The camaraderie and enthusiasm that the whole band shared for playing with each other, bringing together people with a variety of backgrounds to do so, is an experience I was incalculably lucky to be part of.” – Jordan Smith, Law Student.

 

A PACKAGE OF SUPPORT

 Preston Lodge was among the first schools in Scotland to benefit from the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) pipe band programme. The initiative has played a crucial role in breaking down financial barriers to participation by providing grants, free instrument loans, tuition and internships.

The High School now has two full time and one part-time pipe band tutoring staff and runs Development, Novice Juvenile and Juvenile pipe bands, with pupils competing in major national and international competitions.

SSPDT Chief Executive Lindsay MacKenzie said the study held great promise for the education sector: “While previous research has linked learning an instrument to academic achievement, such opportunities are more easily accessible to affluent students. However, this study demonstrates that pipe band membership attracts and retains students from all socio-economic backgrounds, including the most deprived areas.

“Crucially, the findings suggest that students who remain in a pipe band programme for an extended period show significantly higher attainment levels across all SIMD groups when compared to national averages.

“This evidence supports the idea that structured, well-resourced musical engagement – specifically within pipe bands – can provide a powerful tool for educational equity.”

The Trust is now encouraging pipe and drumming tutors nationwide to collect similar data to further validate the research findings.

“This study provides strong indications that our investment in school pipe bands is delivering real educational benefits,” Lindsay added. “While this is not a large-scale study, its decade-long scope and consistency in findings suggest a significant impact that could be replicated across Scotland.”

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Professional Development Forum

Monday 3rd November, 2025

The NPC and Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust – SSPDT are bringing together Piping and Drumming Teachers from across Scotland for a Professional Development Forum on Monday 3rd November 2025 at the National Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow.

This full-day event is designed specifically for tutors working with young people across Scotland. The programme is shaped by your feedback from previous events, input from the community, and the expertise of leaders in our field. We’re looking forward to a vibrant and practical day packed with opportunities to learn, collaborate, create, and connect.

This dynamic, hands-on day will be packed with creative sessions tailored to supporting young learners. Tickets will be £75 for salaried piping & drumming tutors or £10 for freelance/ self-employed.

Register your interest at the link below and we will be in touch as soon as booking is live after the summer break.

https://forms.gle/fcyHyHGteBVukQjS9