Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the decision to remove postgraduate bursaries for Initial Teacher Training in Music on (a) levels of music teacher recruitment and (b) the ability of schools to ensure that every student has access to a broad and balanced curriculum which includes music as part of their statutory entitlement.

The Government believes that the arts are an essential part of a broad and balanced education. Music is a statutory subject within the National Curriculum for maintained schools in Key Stages 1 to 3. At Key Stage 4, all pupils in maintained schools must be offered the opportunity to study at least one subject in the arts 'entitlement' area.

The Department reviews the bursaries that are offered for initial teacher training (ITT) before the start of the annual recruitment cycle. The decisions made by the Department take account of several factors, including forecast economic conditions, previous recruitment, and teacher supply need in each subject. Being able to change bursary amounts gives the Department the flexibility to respond to the need to attract new teachers, and enables money to be spent where it is needed most.

In the 2020/21 academic year, we have seen an increase in applications compared to previous years, and a 32% increase in postgraduate ITT applications compared to the equivalent period in the 2019/20 academic year[1]. Departmental analysis suggests that this increase will continue for applications to ITT courses for the 2021/22 academic year.

The Department recognises the importance of music within the National Curriculum. As we review ITT financial incentives during each academic year, the Department will consider the offer across all subjects before announcing the incentives for ITT courses taking place in the 2022/23 academic year.

In the 2019 spending round, the Government announced funding increases for schools across the next three years. This will mean an additional £2.6 billion for the 2020/21 financial year, £4.8 billion for 2021/22, and £7.1 billion for the 2022/23 in cash terms compared to 2019/20. In terms of distribution, this funding increase will allow every secondary school to receive at least £5,000 per pupil, and every primary school at least £3,750 per pupil this year (rising to £4,000 per pupil in 2021-22).

[1] https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/ucas-teacher-training-statistical-releases