Music Education: State Schools

Baroness Wheatcroft Excerpts

Tuesday 24th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wheatcroft (CB)]

My Lords, I give my congratulations to the noble Baroness, Lady Keeley, on securing this valuable debate, and to the noble Baroness, Lady Debbonaire, on her fascinating maiden speech.

So far, we have all sung from the same hymn sheet: we want more and better music education in state schools. The last Government shared that aim, but their national plan managed to be simultaneously inadequate and yet wildly ambitious. I am sure this Government embrace the same aims, but they are not getting anywhere close.

We know that music is fundamental to improving the education attainment of all children. The provision of instruments is crucial. It makes an enormous difference in deprived schools for children to have an instrument of their own, to play in an orchestra, to be part of a team. It takes them out of gangs and into positive teams. The provision of instruments was promised—there was going to be £25 million for instruments and equipment—but the guidance on accessing that money was almost impossible, and I doubt that any of it has been handed over so far.

One can only sympathise with teachers who try to eke out what they have in the storeroom—a few triangles and the odd recorder. We know that those orchestras that can survive make a huge difference. We must thank Andrew Lloyd Webber and the wonderful work of the Music in Secondary Schools Trust, and we need some more help for them.

However, given that money is tight, I want to make a special plea for the importance of music in maths—we all know the importance of maths in society today. New research shows that the early indications are that maths can help not only if it is taught separately but if the teaching of maths and music is integrated—that makes a difference to both. I urge the Government to look at possibility of merging early years education in maths and music.