PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Music: GCSE (11 April 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking with the Secretary of State for Education to help ensure all children have the opportunity to study GCSE music.

Asked by:
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour)

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with their counterparts at DfE on a wide range of issues including music education.

The arts are a key part of the national curriculum and music remains a compulsory subject for 5 – 14 year olds. In support of music education, we have announced almost £500 million of funding in 2016-20 for a diverse portfolio of music and arts education programmes that are designed to improve access to the arts and develop talent across the country.

In addition, this Government's introduction of music education hubs has enhanced existing music education provision offering support to all schools which they can draw on to help them deliver a music curriculum including GCSE music.

In January 2019 DfE announced an additional £1.33 million funding for music education hubs and that DfE and DCMS would work together to refresh the National Plan for Music Education.

In order to ensure all pupils are able to enjoy a high quality music education, DfE are 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.

The model curriculum will provide pupils with the knowledge and skills which enable them to embark with confidence on a GCSE course of study.

Answered by:
Sir Michael Ellis (Conservative)
24 April 2019