A Vision for Music Education—But at What Cost?
In June 2022, the Department for Education released its refreshed National Plan for Music Education The Power of Music to Change Lives (NPME). The document sets out a vision for music education across England up to 2030. It focuses on collaboration between music hubs, schools, partners, and other organisations to provide high-quality, accessible music education for all children and young people.
The updated plan offers clearer guidance, with a particular focus on inclusion and partnership working to create more equitable access to music provision. However, delivering this vision comes at a significant financial cost.
To assess this, Music Mark—the UK’s subject association for music education—commissioned the independent think tank Demos to analyse and cost the full scope of the NPME from 2025 to 2030. Their findings reveal a £32.3 million annual funding shortfall, amounting to £161.4 million over the plan’s delivery timeline.
The funding shortfall identified by Music Mark is not just a statistic—it represents real barriers to access, real missed opportunities, and real young people losing out on the transformative power of music education.
What is the National Plan for Music Education (NPME), and why do Music Hubs matter?
The NPME outlines a vision for all children and young people in England to access high-quality music education, both in and out of school. It sets expectations for schools, music hubs, and other organisations to work together to create a more inclusive and sustainable music education system.
Music Hubs play a central role in delivering this vision. As the Hub Lead Organisation for the Kent & Medway Music Hub, our responsibility is to respond to the plan at a local level, ensuring that music opportunities are available and accessible across the region.
The key aims we work towards include:
- Supporting schools to deliver high-quality curriculum music
- Providing musical opportunities for all children and young people, both in and out of school
- Helping young musicians develop their interests and skills, including pathways into further study and careers
A key shift in the refreshed NPME (compared to the original 2011 plan) is its expanded scope. Music education is now expected to start from early years (0-5) and extend beyond school into careers. This broadens the impact of hubs but also brings significant challenges, as the scale of work increases without additional funding to match.
Rising to the Challenge: How We’re Making It Work
While the increased age range and financial challenges might seem daunting, the NPME has provided Kent Music with a clearer direction and reinforced our commitment to equitable access for young people in underserved communities.
We continue to support schools, tuition, and music centres as part of our core services. Additionally, we have been working strategically to identify gaps in provision in areas such as Dover Town, the Isle of Sheppey, and Medway. By analysing access to music opportunities in these communities, we have been able to develop targeted programming to meet local needs.
Key responses to our learnings include:
- Increased professional development and training for teachers in underserved areas
- Early years programmes to support music education from the earliest stages
- Whole-class instrumental programmes for pupils who might not otherwise access tuition
We are also working in partnership with organisations to enhance opportunities. For example, our collaboration with the Royal Ballet & Opera has brought new opportunities to students on the Isle of Sheppey. We also work with Kent and Medway Young Musicians Trust, which provides grants to students facing financial barriers
Want to know more?
While the Demos report highlights a significant funding shortfall, what’s clear is that partnership working, strategic planning, and community engagement are making a difference. Year on year, we continue to expand access to music education despite the challenges.
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