Junior Scholarships Programme Strategic Review

Earlier this year Philip Flood undertook a Strategic Review of our Junior Scholarships Programme, and we are very pleased to be able to share the Executive Summary here on our website.

We are very grateful to Philip Flood for conducting such a thorough and insightful review. His careful engagement with Junior Scholars, families, Mentors, Music Service leaders, Trustees and sector partners has given us a rich and honest picture of the Programme’s impact, and a valuable set of recommendations to consider for the future.

We are of course delighted that the review confirms the transformative difference that Junior Scholarships make to young musicians in London, particularly in removing financial barriers to music-making, supporting the transition from primary to secondary school, and building confidence and a lasting sense of identity as musicians.

With our new Chief Executive, Chris Stones, we will be reviewing the report’s findings and recommendations carefully over the coming months, with a view to amending, updating and improving the application process and eligibility criteria for the Programme in 2027.

In the meantime, we are pleased that one of the review’s key recommendations is already being put into action. Thanks to generous funding from the Foyle Foundation, LMF will deliver a new Intermediate Scholarship Programme, supporting up to 20 Scholars a year for the next three years, starting in the 2026/27 academic year. We will also be looking at ways to improve the delivery of our Junior Scholarships Programme during the current academic year.

We would like to thank everyone who took part in the review, and all our Junior Scholars, families, Music Service partners, Mentors and supporters for their continued commitment to ensuring that all young musicians in London can access transformative, progressive music education, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Download the Summary of the Scholarships Programme Strategic Review Here