Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education Music Education: State of the Nation, published on 4 February, that found that there has been a fall in the proportion of GCSE entries in Music of 16.66 per cent since 2014–15; and what plans they have to address that fall.

All state-funded schools are required to provide a broad and balanced curriculum. Ofsted is currently undertaking a consultation on its proposed new education inspection framework. The consultation runs until 5 April. Under its proposals, inspectors will assess the extent to which schools are providing a broad and balanced curriculum for their pupils.

We are aware of the All-Party Parliamentary Group's report. The number of secondary aged children in state-funded schools has decreased over time so it is not surprising that the overall number of children taking GCSE music has reduced. Since 2010, the proportion of pupils taking GCSE music has fluctuated but remained broadly stable, ranging between 6% and 7%.