Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Music Education in Schools

Monday 23 October 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department will require every music hub to support music tuition for disadvantaged pupils starting September next year.
  • Investment of 2 million in a music progression programme in education investment areas to support up to 1,000 pupils to learn an instrument.
  • Minister expressed personal passion for music in schools and willingness to visit innovative small businesses to learn more.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Barbara Keeley Lab
Education
Context

Ofsted reported a significant disparity in music tuition opportunities between socio-economic backgrounds and noted that half of primary schools do not offer instrumental or vocal lessons. The situation has been exacerbated by Conservative-led Governments over the years.

Question

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of music education in schools, given Ofsted reports indicating a significant disparity between opportunities for children from different socio-economic backgrounds and that half of primary schools do not offer instrumental or vocal lessons?

Answer from Nick Gibb

From September next year, every music hub will be required to support music tuition for disadvantaged pupils. We are investing £2 million in a music progression programme in education investment areas to support up to 1,000 pupils to learn an instrument.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific request for urgent action and only provided information on future plans without indicating immediate steps being taken.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Barbara Keeley Lab
Education
Context

Ofsted reported that half of primary schools do not offer instrumental or vocal lessons, and two thirds of primary schools have non-specialist teachers for music. The report highlighted a divide between opportunities for children from different socio-economic backgrounds.

Question

What urgent action will the Government take in response to Ofsted's findings that half the primary schools visited did not offer any instrumental or vocal lessons and that what lessons existed were being taught by non-specialist teachers?

Answer from Nick Gibb

From September next year, every music hub will be required to support music tuition for disadvantaged pupils. We are investing £2 million in a music progression programme in education investment areas to support up to 1,000 pupils to learn an instrument.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address the specific request for urgent action and only provided information on future plans without indicating immediate steps being taken.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Education Culture, Media & Sport
Context

XYZ Music Academy teaches over 2,000 children across Buckinghamshire weekly and employs 18 tutors. Its online primary school music curriculum helps smaller-budget schools to deliver high-standard music provision.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend visit XYZ Music Academy to learn more from this innovative small business that could be adopted more widely across the country?

Answer from Nick Gibb

I would be delighted to visit XYZ. Music in schools is a personal passion for me; I want to see more of it and a better quality of it. In 2021, we published the model music curriculum, which is designed to help primary and secondary schools to improve their music education.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email