Welcome to the official website of the James Allen's Community Music Centre (JACMC)

Through this site, you will learn about the goals and progress of the JACMC Campaign. 

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything" (Plato)

This is the most exciting project which JAGS (including JAPS) has undertaken in recent times. We want as many people as possible to feel part of this development and we are confident that it will have the support of our whole school and wider local communities.

JAGS already has a strong link to many local schools and we are committed to a social inclusion policy for the Community Music Centre. This wonderful new facility is designed for use by both JAGS and the wider community. The JACMC has been widely encouraged by local groups - read about their views here.

Case for Support

The community of south-east London is not well served by music-making facilities and we believe that we can make a significant contribution. A survey commissioned by Southwark Council in 2006 identified a demand for local music facilities. Our own research has similarly indicated a need for spaces for local groups to rehearse and play together and for a high quality large performance space. Involvement in music is recognised as a way to raise self-esteem, stimulate intellectual and personal development and increase community cohesion. In line with the 'Good Neighbours' policy adopted by JAGS in 1995 and developed widely over the intervening years, we are committed to a social inclusion policy for the new Community Music Centre.  Click here if you wish to contact us about using the JACMC for your local group.

JAGS also recognises that in keeping with its national reputation for excellence and its unique musical heritage the School needs modern music facilities to keep pace with the standards expected by current and future pupils and parents and to do justice to the musical talents of our pupils. Music of all kinds has long been thriving at JAGS, since the time of its first Directors of Music, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst. It is now produced and enjoyed not only by our own pupils of all ages, but by parents, staff, pupils from other schools, friends and groups from the local community. Their talent, enthusiasm, initiative and commitment deserve high quality, modern, purpose-built facilities where musical activities can develop and flourish still further.

"It is necessary to know facts, but music will enable you to see past facts to the very essence of things in a way which science cannot do" (Ralph Vaughan Williams, former JAGS music master)

The JACMC Project has already attracted a number of prestigious Patrons: Angela Gheorghiu (opera singer), Camila Batmanghelidjh (KidsCompany), Charlotte Ritchie (All Angels), Jenny Éclair (comedian & broadcaster), Jeremy James Taylor (National Youth Music Theatre), Lady Annabelle Weidenfeld, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, Lord McColl of Dulwich, Richard Stilgoe (Youth Music & Music Therapy), Sally Hawkins (actress), Sir David Willcocks, Sola Akingbola (Jamiroquai). The main JACMC Committee is chaired by Tom Van Oss, a parent and governor of JAGS. Many other supporters are working with us.

"Music is the greatest extra you can add to education" (Richard Stilgoe OBE, JACMC Patron)

                   JAGS supports the Music Manifesto