House of Commons · Westminster Hall
03 July 2025 · 7 other contributors · 13,290 words
Opened by Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Responding minister: Catherine McKinnell
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Bambos Charalambous raised concerns about music education in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
The lead MP calls for the government to commit to increasing initial teacher training bursaries, training 1,000 specialist music teachers by the end of this Parliament, and investing in focused CPD for music teachers. He also asks for accountability mechanisms to ensure that schools prioritise music education.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Music education is facing a crisis with the number of students receiving tuition in schools falling rapidly, recruitment and retention of music teachers declining, financial strain on music hubs, and funding remaining stagnant. The disparity between state and independent school access to music education widens, with only 15% of children in state schools receiving substantial music tuition compared to 50% in independent schools.
Mr Jogee echoes the points made about recruitment challenges and expresses gratitude towards his hon. Friend for securing this debate. He mentions the importance of addressing structural issues in music education to ensure a full musical education is accessible to young people from all backgrounds. Delivered a wide-ranging speech covering various departments, displaying his passion for the issue and raising several questions. Invited the Minister to visit St Mary’s school in Newcastle-under-Lyme to see the formative impact of music education.
Ms Sabine shares her personal experience of how music scholarships provided by Hampshire county council transformed her life. She highlights the severe erosion of music education opportunities, with fewer scholarships, less local support, and growing inequality in access. She calls for urgent investment to reverse real-terms cuts to arts education and music hubs. Shared personal experiences of childhood that created a sense of belonging through music.
Expressed cross-party support for better music education, thanked music teachers, and requested recruitment strategies.
Acknowledged the suggestion and assured its consideration by relevant departments, highlighted ongoing support for music hubs with £76 million funding secured for 2025-26. Responded that the current commitment is for the academic year 2025-26, and future funding will be confirmed in due course.
Sollom argued that there is no reason why investment in both STEM and the creative arts cannot coexist, citing examples like Pythagoras and Leibniz to illustrate how they complement each other.
Singer and musician John Slinger emphasized the importance of music education for discipline and creativity, citing personal experience. He criticized Conservative Governments for stripping back opportunities over the past 14 years. Clarified that he is not a hip-hop artist and played in a rock band, touching on the diversity of music education. Expressed concerns about ensuring music is held in high esteem within the education system. Suggested that local authorities should audit unused musical instruments in municipal buildings for distribution to primary schools.
Acknowledged the importance of music education and thanked fantastic music teachers for their contributions. Mentioned a primary school in his constituency that puts on amazing musical works. Introduced the music education hubs and noted that £79 million was allocated over three years, with another £25 million for musical instruments. Also questioned the future funding of bursaries for musically gifted young people. Asked the Minister to clarify which school years will be covered by funding commitments, specifically inquiring about coverage for those starting in September 2027.
Government Response
Catherine McKinnellThe Minister for School Standards
Acknowledged the debate's importance and the need to widen access to arts education. Mentioned her personal experience of learning a musical instrument at school, highlighting its benefits in academic achievement and personal development. Emphasised the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity with an inclusive curriculum including music. Announced a new national centre for arts and music education, set to launch by September 2026 with the aim of supporting high-quality teaching in music and other arts disciplines. Emphasised continued support for the music hubs programme with £76 million funding secured for 2025-26 and highlighted the Government’s investment in a new pilot to widen access to musical instruments for disadvantaged pupils, including an additional £233 million incentives package for teacher training. Discussed positive signs of teacher recruitment with a reported increase of trainees in music courses from 216 to 331. Announced a 5.5% pay award for teachers in 2024-25 and a 4% pay award for the following year, resulting in an almost 10% increase over two years. Mentioned expanded recruitment campaigns and flexibility initiatives such as allowing planning, preparation, and assessment time to be undertaken at home. Highlighted work on addressing teacher workload and wellbeing through a service aimed at reducing excessive workload. Addressed enrichment opportunities like music and the arts with £132.5 million allocated from the dormant assets scheme strategy for disadvantaged young people's access to enrichment. Announced commitments of £36 million for academic year 2025-26 to support high-achieving children in specialist music and dance education, benefiting over 2,000 pupils annually. Confirmed commitment to high-quality music education for all children, including £36 million funding for the next academic year (2025-26), support for lower-income families, and willingness to meet for further discussion.