James begins with St Teresa's primary school in Basildon, Essex, testing whether his 'instrument amnesty' can work with the pupils of Year 5, and persuading teachers and parents of its benefits before he attempts to launch it across the rest of the UK. St Teresa's was placed in special measures after its last Ofsted inspection, and its new head is determined to improve its academic performance. James thinks music could be the key to the school's transformation, but can he really get a class of 9 and 10 year olds fully kitted out with clarinets, flutes, trumpets and trombones, and ready to perform Beethoven in just five weeks?
The school's end-of-year results are due, and with them the verdict on whether James's music lessons have boosted the children's academic performance. After its last Ofsted inspection, St Teresa's was placed in special measures, and James needs to show improvements if he's to win over the hard-pressed and sceptical teachers. In the meantime, he takes musical protest to the heart of Westminster and the people in charge of music education policy. And he rolls out his instrument amnesty nationwide with the help of some big-name supporters from the worlds of music and entertainment.