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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what provisions are available for assisting talented musicians from Leeds West in state schools to achieve excellence as musicians; [116185] (2) how many pupils in each year group (a) had access to and (b) took up musical instrument lessons at schools in the Leeds West constituency in the latest year for which figures are available; [116186] (3) what percentage of state-educated pupils in the Leeds West constituency (a) had access to and (b) took up musical instrument lessons at schools in the latest year for which figures are available. [116187] Mr. Miliband: The Department does not collect this information centrally, either by year group or at constituency level. However, as a result of last year's national survey we do now have data on the overall music provision for schools provided by LEA Music Services. LEAs returned this data on a confidential basis and so figures for individual LEAs cannot be released. I can, however, offer a national estimate of the number of pupils learning a musical instrument. According to the survey returns: in England, 253,000 pupils at Key Stage 2 are currently receiving regular instrumental or vocal tuition provided by LEA Music Services (around 10.3 per cent of all Key Stage two pupils on average) 454,600 pupils in Key Stages 1-4 are receiving instrumental or vocal tuition provided by LEA Music Services (around 8 per cent of pupils on average). Further data from the survey, at national level, is available in the form of a published report. The report can be found on the DfES Music Services website at www.dfes.gov.uk/musicservices. Hard copies have been placed in the House. The Department is strongly committed to music education and we have a number of projects underway to identify and nurture talented young musicians. Talented Leeds pupils will have access to Junior Conservatoires such as the Leeds College of Music and the National Youth Orchestra as well as the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

406 c218-9W; 116185;116186;116187

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Access Education Leeds Pupils Music Musicians Schools Teachers Musical instruments

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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