Music: Education

(asked on 7th December 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of report by the Incorporated Society of Musicians The heart of the school is missing, published on 6 December; and what plans they have to increase music provision in (1) primary, and (2) secondary, schools.


Answered by
Baroness Berridge Portrait
Baroness Berridge
This question was answered on 21st December 2020

Music and the arts are vital parts of children and young people’s education, and the Department remains committed to making sure all children have access to a high-quality music education. The Department has invested nearly £500 million of central programme funding between 2016 and 2020 on a diverse portfolio of music and arts education programmes.

In January, the Department announced a further £80 million investment in Music Education Hubs for financial year 2020-21 to ensure all children, whatever their background, have access to a high-quality music education.

The guidance for school opening is clear that all schools are expected to teach an ambitious and broad curriculum in all subjects, including music. The guidance also includes detailed advice on how to teach music safely given the additional risk of infection, including when singing and playing wind or brass instruments.

The Department notes that the survey underpinning the report was conducted in the first four weeks of the autumn term, during an unprecedented time for schools as they opened fully to all pupils. During this period, schools will have been busy implementing a wide range of measures, such as the extra measures to teach music safely.

Through close partnership working between the Department and Arts Council England, there are strong indications that more schools have been engaging with Music Education Hubs over the course of this term and are teaching music as part of their curriculum.

Reticulating Splines