The two subject associations for music education, the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) and the UK Association for Music Education (Music Mark), call on all schools to take urgent action.
Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the ISM and Bridget Whyte, chief executive of Music Mark say:
‘As the two subject associations for music education, the ISM and Music Mark recognise the importance of collaboration and the need to lead and support the music education sector. That is why we are publishing this joint statement.
As shown by the recent All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for music education meeting in Parliament, the University of Sussex research into secondary curriculum provision and the Musicians’ Union's (MU) research into how household income affects the likelihood of a child learning a musical instrument, we need to take urgent action regarding the provision of music education in our secondary schools in England.
The University of Sussex research demonstrated the marginalisation of music in our maintained schools. The research showed an increasing number of schools are reducing or completely removing music in the curriculum for Key Stage 3 – Year 7, 8 and 9 students – resulting in some schools now not offering music as a curriculum subject. In some others it is only taught as an “enrichment day” once a year. The research also showed that 70% of music teachers are now often teaching outside their subject area to “fill gaps” in “core subjects”. This is a disturbing development given that the Government recognised in 2016 the importance of specialist teaching in every subject in order to secure the best outcome for our children.
The MU report recommends that schools take a greater role in providing encouragement to children from low income families who are less likely to be encouraged to learn by their parents. Secondary school music is for many their only access to music, and Music Education Hubs are available to support schools in helping children from low income families access learning.
Therefore, the ISM and Music Mark are urging the following actions:
- We call on all schools to ensure that the national curriculum for music is delivered in all Key Stages.
- Further, we call on all secondary schools to reverse the trend of music disappearing at Key Stage 3. To make this happen, secondary schools must commit to delivering a minimum of one hour of music education per week for each year in Key Stage 3.
- We also call on all secondary schools to have at least one full-time music teacher who exclusively teaches music and no additional subjects.
If schools do not commit to these actions, the situation within our secondary schools will become graver – and music education will become the preserve of only those who can afford it.’
About the ISM
The ISM is the UK's professional body for musicians and a nationally recognised subject association for music.
Since 1882, we have been dedicated to promoting the importance of music and protecting the rights of those working in the music profession. We support 9,000 members across the UK and Ireland with our unrivalled legal advice and representation, comprehensive insurance and specialist services.
Our members come from all areas of the music profession and from a wide variety of genres and musical backgrounds. As well as working musicians, our membership also includes recent graduates, part-time and full-time music students, and retired musicians.
We campaign tirelessly in support of musicians’ rights, music education and the profession as a whole. We are a financially independent not-for-profit organisation with no political affiliation. This independence allows us the freedom to campaign on any issue affecting musicians.
About Music Mark
Music Mark is a membership organisation, subject association for music and charity. On behalf of its members and the wider sector, Music Mark lobbies for, and champions, a government-supported, high-quality, music education provision for all school-aged children and young people which addresses diversity, equity and inclusion at its core.
Additional resources
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The University of Sussex research into secondary curriculum provision: tinyurl.com/mt12-ism1
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The APPG for music education meeting in Parliament, including Lord Black of Brentwood's debate: tinyurl.com/mt12-ism2
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Lord Black's question in the House of Lords: tinyurl.com/mt12-ism3
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GCSE results showing that the uptake of music has fallen: tinyurl.com/mt12-ism4
