The Stage

Government unveils national plan for music education

Published Friday 25 November 2011 at 16:33 by Alistair Smith

The government has announced its first ever national plan for music education in response to Classic FM managing director Darren Henley’s review of the sector.

Henley’s review, published earlier this year, made 36 recommendations for the minimum expectations of what any child going through the English school system should receive in terms of an education in music. One such recommendation was that there should be a comprehensive national plan for music education.

Launching the scheme today, Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove claimed it “will deliver a music education system that encourages everyone, whatever their background, to enjoy music and help those with real talent to flourish as brilliant musicians” while culture minister Ed Vaizey said that the new resources would help “provide our fantastic creative industries with the next generation of talent”.

Under the plans, the In Harmony programme - based on the Venezuelan El Sistema scheme offering intensive instrumental training to children from deprived backgrounds - will be rolled out across the country. Meanwhile, the plan promises to offer every child the opportunity to learn to play a musical for at least a term and a new music teaching module will be developed for trainee primary teachers. Support will also continue for the Music and Dance Scheme, which helps fun gifted young people to attend specialist music and dance schools.

From 2012, music education will be provided by new “hubs”, which will replace the current music services model. They will be set up and monitored by Arts Council England. ACE has been given a grant of £171 million to cover this from 2012 to 2015, as part of a total of £202 million allocated for music education over the three years. This, however, marks a significant drop in funding from the current £82.5 million a year that is spent on the sector by the Department for Education.

ACE chief executive Alan Davey said: “I know from personal experience just how much early opportunities to get involved in the arts can enrich a young person’s life and help develop their potential. That’s why I’m so pleased to apply the arts council’s skill and judgement to the establishment of music education hubs, which will play a key role in ensuring that every child in this country has the chance to experience the richness of music.

‘There are some exceptional music services, but there are also areas of England that have significantly less music education provision than others and this needs to be addressed. I look forward to working with the Department for Education to deliver this important work.”

Applications to become one of the hubs have opened today and will close on February 17, 2012. Successful applicants will be announced in late April and the hubs will be in place in September 2012.

The National Music Plan has been welcomed by the Musicians’ Union. Diane Widdison, National Organiser for Teaching at the MU, added: “What is important is that access to quality music education is available to all children and young people, and that music tuition is delivered by a skilled and well resourced workforce. Over two thirds of our 30,000 plus members work in music education and it is imperative that these teachers are engaged in the implementation and delivery of the National Music Plan as it is the workforce who will be responsible for inspiring the next generation of musicians.”