Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the mental health benefits of music education for children; and what plans they have to promote music in the national curriculum for primary schools.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The government believes that creative subjects like arts, music and drama are important elements of the rounded and enriching education every child deserves to receive. Under this government, the arts and music will no longer be the preserve of a privileged few.

Music is in the current National Curriculum, which is compulsory in all maintained schools from the age of 5 to 14 years. The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which will be chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE, and one of the aims is to deliver a broader curriculum so that pupils do not miss out on subjects such as music. When the review has concluded, and subject to Parliament passing the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, the department will require all state-funded schools, including academies and free schools, to follow the National Curriculum.

The department additionally supports children to learn music through the Music Hubs programme, which supports instrumental teaching in schools, as well as providing continuing professional development for teachers and access to local, regional and national ensembles. In 2022/23, Music Hubs provided support to around 90% of primary schools across England.

The department has not made a specific assessment of whether promoting music education in the National Curriculum for primary schools would help diminish pressures on the NHS arising from children’s mental health. However, studies show that music education has a wide range of wellbeing benefits for children.

The government is committed to improving mental health support for all children and young people. The right support should be available to every young person that needs it, which is why the government will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school.

The government will also be putting in place new Young Futures hubs, including access to mental health support workers, and will recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health staff to treat children and adults.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether promoting music education in the national curriculum for primary schools would help diminish pressures on the NHS arising from children’s mental health.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The government believes that creative subjects like arts, music and drama are important elements of the rounded and enriching education every child deserves to receive. Under this government, the arts and music will no longer be the preserve of a privileged few.

Music is in the current National Curriculum, which is compulsory in all maintained schools from the age of 5 to 14 years. The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which will be chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE, and one of the aims is to deliver a broader curriculum so that pupils do not miss out on subjects such as music. When the review has concluded, and subject to Parliament passing the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, the department will require all state-funded schools, including academies and free schools, to follow the National Curriculum.

The department additionally supports children to learn music through the Music Hubs programme, which supports instrumental teaching in schools, as well as providing continuing professional development for teachers and access to local, regional and national ensembles. In 2022/23, Music Hubs provided support to around 90% of primary schools across England.

The department has not made a specific assessment of whether promoting music education in the National Curriculum for primary schools would help diminish pressures on the NHS arising from children’s mental health. However, studies show that music education has a wide range of wellbeing benefits for children.

The government is committed to improving mental health support for all children and young people. The right support should be available to every young person that needs it, which is why the government will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school.

The government will also be putting in place new Young Futures hubs, including access to mental health support workers, and will recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health staff to treat children and adults.

Found: Upholland; Baroness Blackstone; Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town; Baroness Lawlor; Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne

Found: Upholland; Baroness Blackstone; Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town; Baroness Lawlor; Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne

Found: Minister for Sport 1987–1990 Former Steward of the British Boxing Board of Control Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne

Found: Kentish Town Lord Jackson of Peterborough Baroness Lawlor Baroness Ludford Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne

Submit Evidence (by 7 Mar 2025)

The European Affairs Committee is holding an inquiry into the ‘reset’ of UK-EU relations that the Government is pursuing. The inquiry has two main themes: the substance of the reset, involving questions about what the reset is or should be; and the reset process, involving questions about how the Government pursues it with the EU and the role of interested parties in the UK. The inquiry is expected to consider topics including the Government’s overall approach and negotiating priorities, the relationship between the reset and the forthcoming review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and the relationship between the reset and UK relationships beyond the EU.