Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many school pupils in England have taken (1) GCSE, and (2) A Level, music in each year since 2011.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Data on the number of pupils in England who have taken GCSE music in each academic year since 2010/11 is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/7251178a-2269-43d4-8ae0-77cf21cf4409.
Data on the number of pupils in England who have taken A level music in each academic year since 2010/11 is available in the below table:
A level entries into music of all students aged 16-18[1] since academic year 2010/11
Year 2010/11 to 2020/21[2]. Coverage: England.
Year | Number of pupils entering music exam |
2010/11 | 8,709 |
2011/12 | 8,203 |
2012/13 | 7,655 |
2013/14 | 7,184 |
2014/15 | 6,709 |
2015/16 | 6,155 |
2016/17 | 5,585 |
2017/18 | 5,440 |
2018/19 | 5,120 |
2019/20 | 5,000 |
2020/21 | 5,000 |
[1] Exam entries are for the current exam year for 16-18 students, after discounting. Includes pending awards.
[2] Data for 2010/11 to 2018/19 are revised and data for 2019/20 and 2020/21 are provisional.
[3] Entries since academic year 2010/11 to 2018/19 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-attainment-at-19-years#a-levels-and-other-16-to-18-results.
[4] Entries for acadmic years 2019/20 and 2020/21 can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/f74d6b70-5a7e-43c7-9610-5b6aea6d0d7c.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take in response to the judgment on Tameside MBC v L (Unavailability of Regulated Therapeutic Placement), made in the High Court on 5 July; and whether they will publish any action plan for dealing with the matters arising from this judgment.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Every child growing up in care should have a stable, secure environment where they feel supported and can thrive. The judgment in the case of Tameside MBC v L raises many concerns about the lack of available children’s home provision for some of the most vulnerable children in care.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to make sure there is sufficient provision in their area to meet the needs of all children in their care. We understand that local authorities sometimes find themselves in positions where the most appropriate placement is difficult to access. This is why the government announced £24 million of investment at the Spending Review in November to start a programme of work to support local authorities maintain and expand provision in secure children’s homes. We are also currently developing a new capital funding programme for open residential children’s homes to aid local authorities to develop innovative approaches to reduce the number of children needing care over time, and to develop provision for children with more complex needs or children on remand.
The government launched a bold, broad and independently-led review, to take a comprehensive look at what is needed to make a real difference to the needs, experiences and outcomes of the children supported by children’s social care. The Care Review, led by Josh MacAlister, has now reached its first major milestone with the publication of its Case for Change, published on 17 June. The Case for Change recognises many of the issues raised in the judgment in this case. We eagerly await the review’s final report and recommendations, which will follow further consultation, analysis and public engagement. At that stage we will consider the review’s recommendations and any cost implications.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many students took (1) GCSE, and (2) A Level, music in each year from 2010 to 2020.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
This information is not yet available for the academic year 2019/20. It will become available once we release our provisional publications between November and December 2020. For GCSEs this will be available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/entries-for-gcse-november-2020-exam-series.
For A Levels this will be available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/a-level-and-other-16-18-results-2019-to-2020-provisional.
Information on the number of entries in music GCSEs[1][2][3][4][5] and A Levels in England for the academic years 2009/10 to 2018/19[6] inclusive is provided in the tables below.
Number of GCSE entries in music by pupils at the end of key stage 4 | |||||||||
2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 |
45,433 | 43,157 | 40,761 | 41,256 | 42,446 | 43,698 | 41,650 | 38,897 | 34,709 | 34,580 |
Source: Key stage 4 attainment data
Information on the number of entries in music A Levels in England for the academic years 2009/10 to 2018/19[7][8] inclusive is provided in the tables below.
Number of A level entries in music by pupils at the end of key stage 5[9] | |||||||||
2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 |
8,841 | 8,709 | 8,203 | 7,655 | 7,184 | 6,709 | 6,155 | 5,585 | 5,440 | 5,120 |
Source: Key stage 5 attainment data
[1] Pupils are identified as being at the end of key stage 4 if they were on roll at the school and in year 11 at the time of the January school census for that year. Age is calculated as at 31 August for that year, and the majority of pupils at the end of key stage 4 were age 15 at the start of the academic year. Some pupils may complete this key stage in an earlier or later year group.
[2] Discounting has been applied where pupils have taken the same subject more than once and only one entry is counted in these circumstances. Prior to 2014, best entry discounting, where the pupil’s best result is used was in place in performance tables. From 2014 onwards, first entry rules were introduced, where a pupil’s first entry in that subject is used in performance tables. For more information on discounting and early entry, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-stage-4-qualifications-discount-codes-and-point-scores.
[3] All schools includes state-funded schools, independent schools, independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, hospital schools, pupil referral units and alternative provision. Alternative provision includes academy and free school alternative provision. Since September 2013, general further education colleges and sixth-form colleges have been able to directly enrol 14 to 16 year-olds. The academic year 2014/15 was the first year in which colleges have pupils at the end of key stage 4. From 2016 onwards, entries and achievements for these pupils are included in figures as state-funded schools.
[4] Total number of entries include pupils who were absent, whose results are pending and results which are ungraded or unclassified.
[5] Includes GCSE full courses, level 2 equivalents, GCSE double awards and AS levels.
[6] 2009/10 to 2017/18 results taken from final data; 2018/19 results taken from revised data.
[7] 2009/1010 to 2017/18 results taken from final data; 2018/19 results taken from revised data and includes all schools and colleges in England.
[8] Covers students aged 16 to 18 at the beginning of the academic year, i.e. 31 August.
[9] This is the number of entries, rather than the number of students, so may include resits.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to review the English Baccalaureate following the recommendations from two former Ofsted Chief Inspectors that it should be discontinued.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The department want all pupils to have opportunities to succeed, irrespective of their background. The English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) is an important part of this.
Research published in August 2017 by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies found that EBacc students had a greater probability of progression to all post 16 educational outcomes. In 2010, just 22% of pupils studied the EBacc at GCSE.
We have made progress, with the proportion of pupils taking the EBacc increasing to 38%, and very significant increases in the take up of science, history and geography. The department is working to increase take-up, especially of languages, by introducing a range of programmes including, for example: the £4.8 million modern foreign languages pedagogy programme, an undergraduate digi-mentoring scheme, and the £10 million Mandarin Excellence Programme. We are encouraged by a 2018 Department for Education survey that found that 73% of parents would advise their child to take a language at GCSE.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether future funding for music education hubs will take account of inflation as well as changes to teachers' pay and pension contributions.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The government believes that music is an important subject and that all pupils should receive a high quality music education, at least up to the age of 14. The subject is compulsory in the national curriculum, and the government is providing funding of over £300 million for music education hubs between 2016 and 2020.
Music education hubs have done excellent work to ensure there is more equitable access to music education. Funding for music education hubs beyond March 2021 will be subject to the 2020 Spending Review.
The department is proud of our National Plan for Music Education, setting an ambitious vision for music education for every child, regardless of their background. We are working to refresh the plan and an announcement on this will be made in due course.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase annual funding for music education hubs to £100 million.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The government believes that music is an important subject and that all pupils should receive a high quality music education, at least up to the age of 14. The subject is compulsory in the national curriculum, and the government is providing funding of over £300 million for music education hubs between 2016 and 2020.
Music education hubs have done excellent work to ensure there is more equitable access to music education. Funding for music education hubs beyond March 2021 will be subject to the 2020 Spending Review.
The department is proud of our National Plan for Music Education, setting an ambitious vision for music education for every child, regardless of their background. We are working to refresh the plan and an announcement on this will be made in due course.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision is being made for the future of music education hubs; and when plans for the (1) future funding of, and (2) a long-term strategy for, such hubs will be published.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The government believes that music is an important subject and that all pupils should receive a high quality music education, at least up to the age of 14. The subject is compulsory in the national curriculum, and the government is providing funding of over £300 million for music education hubs between 2016 and 2020.
Music education hubs have done excellent work to ensure there is more equitable access to music education. Funding for music education hubs beyond March 2021 will be subject to the 2020 Spending Review.
The department is proud of our National Plan for Music Education, setting an ambitious vision for music education for every child, regardless of their background. We are working to refresh the plan and an announcement on this will be made in due course.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks for schools of a no-deal Brexit.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Department is considering all aspects of how exiting the EU might affect schools in England and has well-developed plans for leaving the EU without a deal.
The Department has issued guidance for schools on how to prepare for EU exit, which has been attached and is available from:
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what preparations they have made to ensure that schools are not adversely affected by a no-deal Brexit.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The Department is considering all aspects of how exiting the EU might affect schools in England and has well-developed plans for leaving the EU without a deal.
The Department has issued guidance for schools on how to prepare for EU exit, which is available from:
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made, with Ofsted, in the implementation and training of Her Majesty's Inspectors who are subject specialists.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to my noble friend and a copy of her reply will be place in the Libraries of both Houses.