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Schools: Music

Answer

High quality music and arts education are vital to enable lifelong participation in and enjoyment of the arts, as well as underpinning excellence and professionalism for those moving on to the UK’s creative industries. The Culture and Sport Evidence (CASE) Programme, funded by DCMS and its arm’s-length bodies, cites good evidence that structured arts activities for young people raise wider attainment. This includes positive impacts on attainment (of 1 to 2 per cent), cognitive skills (of 16 to 19 per cent) and transferable skills (of 10 to 17 per cent) for arts participants against those who did not take part. The Government have not, however, researched the links between the economic and employment prospects of pupils studying music or creative subjects in schools. The Government believe that children and young people should expect a rich and broad range of cultural experiences as part of their education. To support this aim, Darren Henley was invited to undertake a review of music education in England, which reported in February 2011, and whose recommendations we are now implementing. Mr Henley is currently undertaking a further review of cultural education. This review will complement that on music education, recognising the broad spectrum of cultural education, of which music is a part. The Henley review of cultural education will inform our broader approach to cultural education to improve young people’s access to live theatre, encourage their appreciation of the visual and plastic arts, and work with museums and libraries to support their educational work.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

11574; 730 c76WA

Session

2010-12

Related items

Schools: Music
Monday, 23 January 2012
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Arts Culture Education Music

Link

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