Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the 2022 National Plan for Music Education and prescribed geographic areas for new Hub Lead Organisations, whether individual county-wide upper tier authorities may act as a Local Authority Hub without having to join with other local authorities to create a hub that would cover multiple local authority areas.

In June 2022, the Government published a National Plan for Music Education. The plan sets out the Government’s priorities until 2030 for music education for children and young people, including plans to strengthen the success of Music Hubs. The plan also builds on the Model Music Curriculum published in March 2021, setting out how pupils can progress in music from Key Stages 1 to 3, including on instrumental teaching.

Music Hubs are partnerships, covering one or multiple Local Authority areas, co-ordinated by a hub lead organisation and are made up of schools and academy trusts, Local Authorities, music and wider arts and education organisations, community or youth organisations, and more. They were established in 2012, with direct funding from the Department that had previously been awarded to Local Authority Music Services. While no longer directly receiving funding, some Music Services do currently serve as lead organisations in addition to their other responsibilities. The Department has committed £79 million per year for the Music Hubs programme over three years, up to and including 2025.

The Department’s intention is that the current model of how Music Hubs operate will transition to one where more Hubs will cover multiple Local Authority areas. This reflects the increase of formal partnerships across England over the last decade.

These Music Hub lead organisations will be in place for children and young people in September 2024. Arts Council England has consulted with potential bidders regarding prescribed geographical areas. All feedback will be used to inform next steps and further information will be communicated to all potential bidders later this year.