The Department of Music at Royal Holloway, University of London is delighted to announce a significant victory for music education, following a national campaign it supported alongside music stars like Ed Sheeran, industry leaders, and educators.
Earlier this year, our department added its voice to a collective letter to the UK government, spearheaded by the Ed Sheeran Foundation. The letter, signed by over 600 artists, industry professionals, and educators - including our own Head of Department, Professor Stephen Rose - called for urgent action to "Protect & Grow Music Education" in the UK.
The campaign highlighted a critical decline in music provision, citing a 21% decrease in state schools and the closure of vital youth music spaces. It presented a five-point plan requesting a £250m investment to:
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Fund music in schools similarly to sport.
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Close the gaps in music teacher recruitment.
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Launch a UK-wide fund for grassroots music collaboration.
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Create fair and industry-fit music apprenticeships.
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Diversify the curriculum and include industry voices.
We are thrilled to report that this collective advocacy has yielded a major success. The UK government has agreed to one of the campaign's core asks: diversifying the genres taught in the music curriculum and removing outdated systems that have limited children's access to music and the arts as part of their school day.
A landmark change
This landmark change the first of its kind in a decade marks a new chapter for the arts in the school system. It is a crucial step towards ensuring that music education is for everyone, not just a privileged few, and that it reflects the vibrant diversity of the UK's music industry.
This achievement would not have been possible without the powerful coalition of voices from across the music and education sectors. As a signatory, Royal Holloway’s Department of Music is proud to have contributed to this vital national conversation and we will continue to advocate for the sustained investment and support that music education deserves.
For further information, you can read the original letter to parliament on the Ed Sheeran Foundation Instagram page (link embedded).
