Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 26 September (HL846), what additional funding they will provide to schools to ensure that every child between the ages of 5 and 14 has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

This government is clear that music and the arts should be part of every child’s education.

The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review will advise on how we deliver a broader curriculum for every child, including subjects such as music, art and drama. The government will also support children to study a creative or vocational subject to 16 and ensure accountability measures reflect this.

School music provision is supported through the £79 million per annum grant provided for the Music Hub programme, which is led by Arts Council England. Music Hubs are partnerships that provide a suite of services to schools to support the delivery of music education, including instrumental teaching, whole class ensemble teaching, instrument hire, continuing professional development for teachers and access to national and regional music opportunities.

To further support access to learning a musical instrument, the government is also providing a £25 million capital grant for musical instruments, equipment and technology. This funding will be distributed to the 43 Music Hub lead organisations by Arts Council England.

The government has also announced the Music Opportunities Pilot, expanding Young Sounds UK’s existing programme – Young Sounds Connect – which offers disadvantaged pupils across primary and secondary schools the opportunity to learn to play an instrument of their choice or learn how to sing to a high standard by providing free lessons and supporting young people to progress. The four year pilot will be delivered across 12 areas in England, and this is backed by £2 million from the government and £3.9 million from Arts Council England and Youth Music.