Children of LS18 Rocks performing on stage (Image: LS18 Rocks)
The music education I had as a young person set me up for life. It inspired an enquiring worldview – and it cultivated the values of collaboration, perseverance and aspiration.
Through seeking to embed these characteristics in my approach to life, I have benefited from opportunities that for many people from fairly ordinary backgrounds, like my own, the statistics tell us are less obtainable.
This is what inspired me to work with young people as a peripatetic music teacher.
Yet, today, many children do not benefit from the opportunities I had.
This year, once again, we’ve seen a worrying trend continue – the number of children studying music at GCSE and A Level is decreasing.
The continued success of our world-leading music industry, which is worth £8bn to the economy, rests on high-quality music education that is accessible to everyone, no matter their background. Talent is found in every corner of the United Kingdom; it’s about time we ensured that the right opportunities are too.
This matters to every one of us. The UK’s music industry is a global success story, contributing £8 billion to our economy, generating £4.8 billion in exports and supporting more than 220,000 jobs. Yet every artist, songwriter, producer, sound engineer, venue manager, and music teacher begins somewhere. The talent pipeline starts in our schools.
The Government’s new Music Plan, Turn it Up, is a welcome recognition of music’s importance to our economy, communities and international reputation. Likewise, planned reforms to the EBacc and Progress 8 – as called for by the Express’ Strike A Chord campaign – offer an opportunity to strengthen arts provision at GCSE and encourage more young people to continue studying music at A Level. But reversing the lasting impact of 15 years of the EBacc and historic funding cuts will require further action.
We must urgently address the continued decline in A level Music while recognising that there is no single route into a career in music. High-quality vocational qualifications are just as important to the future of our industry. Between 2018 and 2021, the number of young people taking vocational music qualifications after Key Stage 4 increased by 48%, demonstrating strong demand for practical, industry-focused routes.
Existing Level 3 vocational music qualifications should remain in place until suitable V Levels and T Levels for music have been co-produced with industry and educators. Those new qualifications must reflect the realities of today’s creative industries and equip young people with the skills employers need.
The ongoing review of GCSE Music also presents a vital opportunity to modernise the curriculum. The syllabus should better reflect the breadth of Britain’s musical heritage and be developed in close collaboration with the sector. That includes ensuring young people study a broader range of music, including Black Music, which accounts for more than 80% of the UK’s recorded music market. A curriculum that reflects the music young people know, love and want to create will help inspire the next generation.
Qualifications alone, however, are not enough. We also need to invest in the people who deliver music education by ensuring teacher recruitment meets targets, increasing teacher training bursaries and giving schools the capacity to offer high-quality music education.
Nor can we ignore the financial barriers that prevent too many children from participating. Every young person, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to learn an instrument, perform with others, and develop the creativity, confidence and skills that music cultivates. Continued investment in Music Hubs and better support for children from lower-income households are essential if we are serious about widening opportunity.
This week’s A Level results, and the upcoming GCSE ones on Thursday, celebrate the hard work of thousands of young people. Yet the true test of our education system is not simply the grades students receive, but whether every child has been given a genuine opportunity to fulfil their potential.
The UK’s next chart-topping artist, award-winning composer, groundbreaking producer or world-class live sound engineer could be sitting in a classroom today. Our job is to make sure they have the chance to discover that potential.
Every child deserves that opportunity.
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