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Schools: Music

Answer

The Government agree that it is important for pupils to study a wide range of subjects. In particular, the Government recognise the importance of music in a broad and balanced education, which is why they commissioned Darren Henley, the Managing Director of Classic FM, to conduct a review of music education and are responding to that review with a new national plan for music education, which will underline the importance of music as a subject. We have introduced the English baccalaureate to address concerns that the number of pupils who currently receive a broad education in core academic subjects is far too small and has been in sharp decline. The English baccalaureate is designed to recognise the success of those pupils who attain GCSEs or established iGCSEs at grade A* to C across a core of academic subjects: English, maths, the sciences, a language and either history or geography. These are subjects that our leading universities say prepare students for the most competitive courses. We encourage all pupils to study non-English baccalaureate subjects as well as those within the core in order to get a well rounded education, and the range of subjects within the baccalaureate is small enough to allow for that. Schools are in the best position to work with pupils to make choices that will allow them to achieve and progress, recognising the importance and value of achieving in these core areas, and also of study in other areas where they have an aptitude and interest. From 2012, we will be opening up access to datasets which will enable parents and others to develop and use their own measures to show schools' success in the areas they are interested in. This will allow them to monitor performance in music and other creative subjects. We have no plans to introduce a sixth pillar to the English baccalaureate.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

11573; 730 c75-6WA

Session

2010-12

Related items

Schools
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Education Music English baccalaureate

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk