Family Hub · The Glasgow School of Music
Parent Information Centre
The operational hub for current GSofM families.
Use this page for Teaching Block dates, invoice deadlines, lesson holds, Direct Debit, attendance reporting, the Student Portal and the correct administrative or policy route.
New Teaching Blocks begin Monday 10 August 2026
Choose the correct route
Current-family administration and new-student guidance are separate.
The Parent Information Centre is primarily an operational page for families with an arranged lesson place. Prospective families should use the lesson-starting journey instead.
Current GSofM families
Dates, invoices, attendance and administration.
Continue through this page for Teaching Blocks, payment deadlines, Direct Debit, Student Portal instructions, attendance and formal support routes.
New or prospective students
Start with the lesson journey, not current-family administration.
Use How Music Lessons Work for the enquiry and paid-trial process, then review Before You Begin and the dedicated Trial Music Lessons page.
Current Family Dashboard
The main links families need during the school year.
Use these routes for dates, portal access, fees, policies, safeguarding and school administration. This dashboard is for families whose lessons are already arranged.
Key Dates Summary
Teaching Block dates, closures, invoice dates, payment deadlines and lesson-hold dates.
Current Student Hub
Portal access, absence logging, invoices, communication routes and current-student support.
Lesson Lengths & Fees
View the dedicated pricing source for lesson lengths, trial pricing and payment notes.
Terms & Conditions
Formal lesson, payment, absence, cancellation and school policy information.
Safeguarding, PVG & Disclosure Scotland
Lesson safety, appropriate checks, reporting concerns and external support routes.
Student Portal
Access your student account, schedule and lesson information.
Existing students continue on their current day and at their current time unless a separate timetable change has already been agreed. The new structure changes how the school year is organised and invoiced.
Teaching Calendar
Teaching Blocks 2026–2027.
Teaching Blocks are the standard weekly teaching periods. Published closures and optional summer lessons are shown separately.
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view all payment and lesson-place columns.
This table is the operational summary for current families: Teaching Block dates, published closures, invoice issue dates, payment deadlines and lesson-hold dates.
| Period | Teaching / closure dates | Invoice issued | Payment due by | Lessons on hold from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Block 1 | Mon 10 Aug – Sun 11 Oct 2026Standard teaching period | Mon 3 Aug 2026 | Sun 9 Aug 2026 | From Mon 10 Aug 2026If unpaid / no approved arrangement |
| Teaching Block 2 | Mon 12 Oct – Sun 20 Dec 2026Standard teaching period | Mon 5 Oct 2026 | Sun 11 Oct 2026 | From Mon 12 Oct 2026If unpaid / no approved arrangement |
| Christmas ClosurePublished school closure | Mon 21 Dec 2026 – Mon 4 Jan 2027 | Not applicable | Not applicable | School closed |
| Teaching Block 3 | Tue 5 Jan – Sun 4 Apr 2027Standard teaching period | Tue 29 Dec 2026 | Mon 4 Jan 2027 | From Tue 5 Jan 2027If unpaid / no approved arrangement |
| Spring ClosurePublished school closure | Mon 5 Apr – Sun 18 Apr 2027 | Not applicable | Not applicable | School closed |
| Teaching Block 4 | Mon 19 Apr – Sun 27 Jun 2027Standard teaching period | Mon 12 Apr 2027 | Sun 18 Apr 2027 | From Mon 19 Apr 2027If unpaid / no approved arrangement |
| Summer ClosureOptional summer lessons may be offered separately | Mon 28 Jun – Sun 15 Aug 2027 | Separately arranged | Separately arranged | Standard timetable closed |
Invoicing & Payment
Payment arrangements are completed before each Teaching Block.
Invoices cover the scheduled lessons in each Teaching Block. Payment, or an approved written arrangement, must be in place by the published deadline. Current lesson prices remain on the dedicated Fees page, while formal account provisions remain in the Terms & Conditions.
Before each block
Families receive invoices in advance according to the published annual schedule.
Before lessons begin
Payment or an approved written arrangement must be in place by the published deadline for the relevant Teaching Block.
Approved by request
A two-instalment arrangement must be requested before the deadline and carries a £10 Instalment Arrangement Administration Fee.
Adjusted rate
Where fortnightly lessons are approved instead of the standard weekly route, the applicable lesson rate is increased by 20%.
Place put on hold
If payment is not received and no approved written arrangement is in place, the lesson place is put on hold from the first teaching day of the relevant Teaching Block until the account is brought up to date.
The person responsible for paying the student’s invoices may authorise future collections through GoCardless. Completing the mandate does not automatically pay an invoice that has already been issued unless GSofM confirms that it will be collected by Direct Debit.
Student Portal & Attendance
Use the Student Portal for attendance and lesson-calendar information.
Use the portal to check the student’s schedule and record a known absence against the correct lesson. Administrative questions about payments, credits, timetable decisions or policy should go to GSofM administration.
Christmas, Spring and Summer
These are the planned non-teaching periods already shown in the annual school calendar.
The scheduled place remains reserved
Student non-attendance during a Teaching Block is not credited, refunded or automatically rescheduled.
Handled under separate provisions
The applicable replacement, credit, refund or carry-forward process is governed by the Terms & Conditions.
Discretionary make-up process: where a student absence is recorded through the Student Portal at least seven days in advance, GSofM may place the student on a discretionary make-up waiting list, subject to tutor, room and timetable availability. Any offer must normally be accepted within 72 hours and taken within 28 days of the original absence; published Christmas, Spring and Summer closures are excluded when calculating that period. This is not an entitlement. Formal attendance and cancellation provisions remain in the Terms & Conditions.
- Sign in
Open the My Music Staff Student Portal using the family account.
- Open Calendar
Find and select the specific lesson the student will miss.
- Choose Cancel
Cancel that lesson in the portal and add a short note for the school and tutor.
Policies & Support
Use the source page for each policy or support need.
This hub gives the operational overview. The dedicated pages below remain the source of truth for prices, formal terms, safeguarding, accessibility and complaints.
Terms & Conditions
Teaching Blocks, payments, attendance, cancellations, credits, account closure and school responsibilities.
Lesson Lengths & Fees
The current source of truth for lesson lengths, standard rates, trial pricing and payment notes.
Safeguarding
Reporting routes, lesson safety, appropriate tutor checks, student welfare and external support information.
Accessibility
Website access, lesson access, communication preferences and reasonable adjustment information.
Complaints & Feedback
Use this route for non-emergency concerns, complaints, communication issues or general feedback.
Privacy Policy
How the school handles website, enquiry, student, family and communication information.
How Music Lessons Work
Paid trials, tutor matching, fixed weekly lesson places, Teaching Blocks and payment expectations.
Before You Begin
The key practical points families should understand before starting or continuing weekly tuition.
Questions
Common parent questions.
A concise guide to Teaching Blocks, payments, attendance and current-family administration.
Is this page for new students or current families?
This page is primarily for current-family administration. New or prospective students should use How Music Lessons Work, Before You Begin and the Trial Music Lessons page.
Will my lesson day or time change?
Existing students continue on their current day and at their current time unless a separate timetable change has already been agreed.
How do I report a planned absence?
Sign in to the Student Portal, open Calendar, select the affected lesson, choose Cancel and add a note. Reporting an absence keeps the school informed but does not create a credit, refund or replacement lesson.
Are student absences credited, refunded or rescheduled?
No. Student absences during scheduled Teaching Block lessons are not credited, refunded or automatically rescheduled. The attendance section above explains the discretionary make-up waiting-list process; formal provisions remain in the Terms & Conditions.
What happens if GSofM or the tutor cancels?
School or tutor cancellations are separate from published school closures and student absences. The applicable replacement, credit, refund or carry-forward provisions are set out in the Terms & Conditions.
Where can I see all dates and payment deadlines?
The full Teaching Block calendar, closures, invoice dates, payment deadlines and lesson-hold dates are shown in the GSofM Key Dates Summary 2026–2027.
Can I pay in two instalments?
An approved two-instalment arrangement may be requested before the payment deadline. It is subject to school approval and a £10 Instalment Arrangement Administration Fee.
How do I set up Direct Debit?
The person responsible for paying the student’s invoices should complete the secure GSofM GoCardless form. Once authorised, the mandate may be used for future payments due to The Glasgow School of Music.
Does setting up Direct Debit pay an invoice already issued?
No. Completing the mandate does not automatically pay an existing invoice. Unless GSofM confirms that it will be collected by Direct Debit, the invoice must still be paid using its stated payment instructions by the due date.
How are approved fortnightly lessons charged?
Where fortnightly lessons are approved instead of the standard weekly route, the applicable lesson rate is increased by 20%.
What happens if payment is late?
If payment is not received and no approved written arrangement is in place, the lesson place is put on hold from the first teaching day of the relevant Teaching Block until the account is brought up to date.
Where should safeguarding concerns be reported?
Use the GSofM Safeguarding page for school reporting routes, lesson-safety information and external guidance. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 first.
Will summer lessons still be available?
Optional summer lessons may be offered separately during the summer closure period, subject to tutor availability.
Who should I contact about an invoice or account decision?
Contact GSofM administration through the school contact page. Tutors can receive practical lesson messages, but account, payment, credit and cancellation decisions must be handled by school administration.