Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timeline for the review of the National Plan for Music Education, which currently runs until 2020.

We have begun preparatory work on the refresh of the National Plan for Music Education, which will be published by 2020.

We are grateful to the many music stakeholders who have already submitted reports and proposals, and are reviewing these closely. A further public announcement will be made soon, setting out our plans to ensure that everyone with an interest in music has the opportunity to contribute.

The government believes that music is an important subject and that all pupils should receive a high quality music education, at least up to age 14. That is why the subject is compulsory in the national curriculum and why the government is providing funding of over £300 million for music education hubs between 2016 and 2020. The national curriculum does not apply in academies, but all state-funded schools have to provide a broad and balanced curriculum.

In order to ensure all pupils are able to enjoy a high quality music education, we are also developing and publishing a non-statutory model music curriculum for key stages 1 to 3. This will expand on the statutory programmes of study and act as a benchmark for all schools.