Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage more opportunities in schools for music and orchestra lessons.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.

As part of our Opportunity Mission, the department wants to widen access to the arts, including music, so young people can develop their creativity.

On 18 March 2025, the department announced its intention to launch a National Centre for Arts and Music Education to promote opportunities for children and young people to pursue their artistic interests in school, including through the government’s network of Music Hubs.

The government has also committed £79 million per year for Music Hubs to the 2025/26 academic year. The 43 Music Hubs partnerships offer musical instrument tuition, instrument loaning, and whole-class ensemble teaching in schools. It is for schools and Hubs to decide in relation to lessons that support orchestral music.