CHILDREN in York are ahead of the game when it comes to singing in school.

Sing Up! - the Government's multi-million pound national singing strategy for primary schools - has come to York schools ahead of many other local authorities.

City of York Council's Arts Education team has set up Vocal Forum - a discussion group of key players from the region to facilitate and co-ordinate the new opportunities that this funding will promote.

Tim Brooks, from the council's Arts Education team, said: "Vocal Forum is a way of bringing together key players to encourage a transparency of individual agendas and to facilitate clear communication so that the money is spent in the best way."

A blog has also been produced to help keep local singing leaders up to date with the variety of projects that are being developed- www.vocalforum.blogspot.com The Vocal Forum has attracted a wide range of partners working together with Arts and Culture that, together with local primary and secondary teachers, include The Sage Gateshead, the National Centre For Early Music, the University of York, York St John's University, the Choir Schools Association - represented by the Minster School - and the Arts Council England.

One of the key partners for the Sing Up! campaign is the Sage Gateshead and through their Vocal Force team, several projects have already been set up in York - Singing Squad, A Song in Every Class and Singing For The Terrified.

Vocal Force strand leader Em Whitfield said: "York is well ahead of the game compared with other authorities and as a result is reaping the benefits already."

Details of all these projects are on the Vocal Forum blog.