Panel of experts to shape future of music education

A team of experts will help shape the future of music education so that all pupils have the opportunity to sing, and be taught a musical instrument and make music with others.

The new expert advisory panel, made up of teachers, Music Education Hub leaders, music industry representatives and other music education experts, will help produce a new National Plan for Music Education next year. The plan will be informed by the music education consultation report, which found that studying music can have a positive impact on young people’s well-being, confidence and communication skills.

The National Plan for Music Education will build upon the current plan that saw the establishment of the national network of Music Education Hubs, which support the delivery of music education in schools all over the country. It has been co-produced by the Department for Education and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “Having the opportunity to be taught and play musical instruments is enriching and fulfilling. I, like many others, wish I’d had a stronger music education and had more of an opportunity to play instruments in my time at school.

“That’s why we want all schools to have a rigorous and broad music curriculum, that inspires their pupils to love music, and the new panel will play a vital part in achieving that by informing the new National Plan for Music Education. Their wealth of experience will be hugely valuable to the future of music education, helping to inspire a new generation of musicians in this country.”

Leaders on the panel include Veronica Wadley, chair of the London Music Fund, Bridget Whyte, CEO of The UK Association for Music Education, Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, chief executive of UK Music, and Catherine Barker, head of Music and Performing Arts, United Learning.