Music Education in Decline

In a recent report, Ofsted paints a worrying picture of the state of music education in schools. While music is part of the core curriculum up to the end of Key Stage 3, the number of pupils taking up music at Key Stages 4 and 5 continues to decline. Key Stage 3 music provision has also been reduced and trainee primary teachers are offered shrinking amounts of musical training. Reduced lesson time has also been accompanied by lower levels of staffing, further diminishing support for a school’s rich musical life.

HM Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman says ‘Music touches the heart of our humanity and its sense of wonder has influenced human societies throughout history. For many pupils, the music they love will be part of the narrative of their lives,’ adding, ‘we shouldn’t be satisfied with just having music on the timetable.’

Richard Morrison, Chief Music critic of The Times, writing in Classical Music, adds ‘Now we are re-emerging into “normality” (which, so far, seems far from normal), the emphasis is on pupils catching up in maths, science and technology – music pushed even more into the margins.’   Yet he sees some hope in the innovations which sprung up during the pandemic.

You can see his full article here:

https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/richard-morrison-why-music-education

and the Ofsted report here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/simply-doing-music-is-not-enough