Written question asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 14 February 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 February 2006. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 27 February 2006 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Music

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made in fulfilling the commitment for all primary children to have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.

Answer: Since 2002, the percentage of KS2 pupils learning a musical instrument has risen from 7 per cent. to 13 per cent. We have achieved this by:"piloting models of delivery in 13 authorities;""sending an Ofsted evaluation and a DVD of exemplar materials based on the pilots to all schools and local authorities in England;""commissioning QCA guidance materials based on the pilots and sending them to all schools and local authorities in England;""funding a series of national and regional training events for teachers, local authorities and music services;""providing local authority music services with an additional £3 million over the last three years to develop their own models of delivery."We expect to make significant further progress over the next two years by:"providing Music Services with a further £1.5 million for this work in 2006–07;""investing £1 million per annum in a national musical instrument fund;""investing £1 million per annum in a national strategy for workforce training and development;""allocating £26 million to primary and special schools to buy in the specialist support they need to deliver this programme in schools;""issuing guidance to primary and special schools at the end of this month about models of delivering these opportunities."

Secondary information