Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what role her Department sees for music education hubs in music curriculum teaching in schools; and how she expects those hubs to effectively fulfil their responsibilities.

The new music curriculum includes requirements for all pupils to have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument, to progress to the next level of musical excellence, to perform, listen to, review and evaluate music, and to sing.

Across 2012-15, the Department for Education is providing £171 million to music education hubs, which perform four core roles designed to improve the quality and consistency of music education in England. Hubs must ensure that every child aged 5-18 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through whole-class ensemble teaching and must provide opportunities for them to play in ensembles and to perform from an early stage. They are also expected to ensure that clear progression routes are available and affordable to all young people and to develop a singing strategy so that every pupil can sing regularly in a choir or other vocal ensembles in their area. In addition, hubs may also provide other services, such as professional development for teachers.

Music education hubs should work in collaboration with schools. All hubs have submitted School Music Education Plans to Arts Council England, which manages the hubs programme. These plans include, for example, how hubs are connecting with all the schools in their area, and how they are planning to provide targeted support to schools where necessary.