Written Statement - Review of Music Education for 3-19 year olds

I am publishing today the report on the Review of Music Education for 3-19 years olds commissioned by the then Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills in August 2009. The report has been compiled by a working group that drew together practitioners from schools, colleges and local authorities, along with colleagues from Estyn and bodies that work closely with the education sector, including the Arts Council of Wales, the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and the Urdd Gobaith Cymru. The working group was charged with reviewing current provision for music within the curriculum and the range of specialist support provided to schools and others, primarily by the Music Service. Consideration was also given to the opportunities to enhance provision and opportunities for progression through partnership with local and national bodies.

I would like to record my thanks to the Chair, Emyr Wynne Jones, and to the members of the working group for their work. The report sets out 16 recommendations. Where the recommendations are directed to partners including local authorities, schools and colleges, action is being taken to draw the recommendations to their attention.

Music makes an important contribution to our culture and to the well-being of young people. I therefore welcome the report and have accepted the majority of the recommendations directed to the Welsh Assembly Government. Some require further consideration, but overall they are consistent with our current policy direction. In particular, I welcome the group’s recommendations on the importance of Initial Teacher Training and Continuing Professional Development for practitioners in schools so that we make best use of the opportunities for music that are firmly embedded in the Foundation Phase and in primary and secondary education. Similarly, with regard to the recommendation on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), we are already working with partners across Wales to support the wider use of PLCs in driving improvement.

I have also underlined the need to make best use of resources. The working group’s recommendation on the opportunity for rationalisation of the support provided to schools by Music Services is, therefore, a valuable contribution to the Front Line Resources Review and ongoing work to structure learning so that we secure sustained improvement. I will ask local authorities to consider the report carefully. I will also make it available to the Structure of Education Task and Finish Group.

The Review and the vision statement developed by the group provide a firm basis for partners to continue to improve the range of opportunities provided for music and the quality of provision. The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to playing its part in this work. A copy of my response to the 10 recommendations directed to the Welsh Assembly Government is at Appendix 1.  A copy of the working group’s report on Music Education for 3-19 years olds is attached at Appendix 2