Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what data they hold related to the delivery of the Music National Curriculum in England in (1) primary schools, and (2) secondary schools.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Music is compulsory in the national curriculum for 5 to 14 year olds. Data from the Omnibus Survey in 2017 reveals that the average amount of teaching time in primary schools was broadly similar to the amount of time spent teaching history and geography. At secondary schools, the data from the school workforce census shows that the proportion of time spent teaching music between 2010 and 2017 has remained broadly stable. In 2010 2.4% of total teaching hours were spent teaching music, compared with 2.3% in 2017. Full details are in the table below.
Proportion of total teaching hours spent on music in years 7-13 in state-funded secondary schools per week | |||||||
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
The network of music education hubs have four core roles, including ensuring that every child aged 5-18 has the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument in whole classes. Data published recently by Arts Council England shows that in 2016-17, 91% of primary schools and 88% of secondary schools worked with their music education hub on at least one of the hubs’ core roles. It also shows that 711,241 pupils in state-funded schools learned to play instruments in lessons for whole classes that were provided or supported by music education hubs.
Academies are not obliged to follow the national curriculum, but they are required to provide a broad and balanced curriculum.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of what should be included in a balanced curriculum in (1) primary schools, and (2) secondary schools.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
All primary and secondary state funded schools are required by legislation and via academy funding agreements, to provide a broad and balanced curriculum which must promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development; and prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
The quality of a school’s curriculum is considered as part of Ofsted’s inspections. Ofsted is currently reviewing its inspection arrangements, including its coverage of curriculum, and intends to consult on proposals for new inspection arrangements in January 2019.
Asked by: Lord German (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many state funded primary and secondary schools in England are (1) academies, and (2) not academies.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The number of state funded primary and secondary schools in England as at 20 November 2018 is given below:
State funded schools in England:
| Primary[1],[2] | Secondary[1][2][3] |
Academy[4] | 5,254 | 2,521 |
Not Academy[5] | 11,517 | 872 |
Total | 16,771 | 3,393 |
Source: Get Information about Schools, the register of schools and colleges in England.
[1] Includes middle schools as deemed.
[2] Excludes special schools, alternative provision schools and pupil referral units, which do not have a phase of education.
[3] Includes all through schools.
[4] Includes academies, Free Schools and University Technical Colleges.
[5] Includes Community schools, Foundation schools, Voluntary Aided schools and Voluntary Controlled schools.