Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the relationship between the amount of music teaching pupils receive at Key Stage 3 and subsequent participation in GCSE Music.

Music is compulsory in all maintained schools from ages 5 to 14, including at key stage 3. The national curriculum sets out the subject content schools must teach, but it does not prescribe the minimum amount of curriculum time that schools should allocate to music.

Schools are responsible for organising their curriculum and timetable in a way that meets statutory requirements and reflects their pupils’ needs. The department has also issued non-statutory guidance for schools on the existing national curriculum for music and this advises a minimum of one weekly period at key stage 3.

The government recognises the importance of strong key stage 3 music education in supporting progression to further study, including GCSE Music. We are taking forward work to reform the national curriculum and GCSEs, including in music, in light of the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review. The new curriculum will be subject to consultation.