UK Music Chief Outlines Five-Point Plan to Education Secretary to Turbocharge Music Education by “Investing in the Stars of Tomorrow” – UK Music

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UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl is calling on Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to turbocharge the nation’s music education sector by boosting funding and investing in 1,000 new music teachers to put music back at the heart of schools.
16.04.2025: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl is calling on Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to turbocharge the nation’s music education sector by boosting funding and investing in 1,000 new music teachers to put music back at the heart of schools.
In a letter to the Education Secretary, he urges the Government to commit to hiring 1,000 new music teachers and increase the Initial Teacher Training Bursary so that it is in line with those of other subjects. 
At present, there are nearly 1,000 fewer secondary school music teachers than in 2012.  Furthermore, the £10,000 bursary that trainee music teachers are currently entitled to falls well short of the £25,000 bursary offered to trainee teachers in subjects such as biology, geography, and languages. 
Tom Kiehl is calling on Government to support the development of new rehearsal spaces and the upgrading of existing ones in deprived areas to offer children vital access to music facilities outside of formal education. 
 Ed Sheeran is also supporting calls to boost music education. Last month, the singer/songwriter wrote to Sir Keir Starmer calling on the Prime Minister to invest £250 million in music education in state schools “to repair decades of dismantling”. 
The call on the Government comes as UK Music plans to mark the 10th anniversary of its MAP (Music Academic Partnership) network with a special event at the House of Lords later this month.
MAP is a ground-breaking collaboration between educational institutions and UK Music membership. Its focus is on linking the music industry and educators more effectively to nurture the next generation of music professionals and set them on the path to a career in music. For more information on MAP click here.
UK Music’s call follows the interim report on the curriculum review, published in March, and the announcement of plans for a National Centre for Arts and Music Education. 
It is vital that the Government works with the music industry to ensure these initiatives have a positive impact and benefit those that need it most – the schools, brilliant educators and talented young people whose potential offers so much.
In order to ensure the next generation of musicians can thrive and that the UK retains its position as a hotbed of world class musical talent, UK Music has drawn up a five-point plan which urges the Government to:
UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said: “Music education is the bedrock of our world-leading music industry. As well as producing some of the most talented and pioneering music creators on the planet, the sector supports 216,000 jobs in the UK and contributes £7.6 billion to our economy.  
“UK Music has long recognised the importance of access and opportunity to music education. It is why 10 years ago we set up the Music Academic Partnership (MAP) to strengthen the relationship between students, academia and industry, as well as supporting other initiatives, from apprenticeships to rehearsal spaces.
“But without investment in music education our talent pipeline is at risk of drying up along with the huge opportunities for economic growth it brings.  
“Since elected to office, the Government has argued that “a complete education is a creative education”. Now is the time to turn these warm words into action.
“That’s why we are calling on Government to back the next generation of musicians by hiring 1,000 new music teachers and making sure that the stars of tomorrow have the platform and skills they need to succeed.  
“A great music education must be available to all, not the preserve of the privileged. Our five-point plan will prevent countless individuals from slipping through the cracks and ensure that budding musicians from all backgrounds are given the opportunity to realise their potential.”
UK Music’s Director of Education and Skills Dr Oliver Morris said: “I am delighted to be celebrating MAP’s 10 Year Anniversary. It gives us all a moment to reflect upon not only the amazing work being done by our fantastic MAP members but also all the often unsung champions working tirelessly across the UK to make music accessible, educational, and fun.
“MAP has given UK Music and our members invaluable links to educators, institutions, organisations, staff and students and has become a valued and supportive network for all involved. I would like to especially thank all the aforementioned staff and students of our MAP members who have made my time running the network so much fun as well as so informative over the years!
“From supporting students starting out on research careers to introducing them to industry figures on the MAP Tour, and from supporting large-scale research bids to celebrating the successes of the members through the Outstanding MAP Graduate Awards (OMGs) we are always developing new ways to engage and nurture the MAP collective.
“The recent success of MusicFutures in Liverpool with UK Music as key partner – facilitated through the MAP connection – will allow groundbreaking and innovative action research to explore many of the fundamental challenges facing the music industry. Collaborative projects such as this are becoming ever more key to our understanding of the landscape and our ability to action change.
“I am both humbled that MAP continues to inspire such engagement after 10 years and excited at what the future holds. I encourage you to get in touch if you would like to find out more about MAP and maybe feel the time is right to join this exciting network.”
UK Music’s five-point plan in full:
There are nearly 1,000 fewer secondary school music teachers than there were in 2012. Trainee music teachers are currently entitled to a bursary of £10,000. Meanwhile, those enrolling in teacher training for biology, geography, and languages will receive a bursary of £25,000. Put simply, the financial incentive to train as a music teacher is lacking compared to other subjects and should be raised to help reverse the decline.
Many children engage with music outside of formal education. The original DCMS-funded rehearsal spaces scheme established 20 spaces, mostly supporting young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, at a cost of £440,000. Upgrading existing spaces would involve replacing or expanding the range of instruments on offer and upgrading equipment. Creating just 10 additional spaces would target 50,000 young people in deprived local communities, giving them access to music beyond formal education. 
The reduction in Government grant funding has led to the closure of several university music departments and specialist music institutions, including those at the University of Kent, University of Cardiff and Oxford Brookes University. In 2021, the Department for Education cut grants to help deliver courses like music by 50%, with funding further frozen in 2024. Without a reversal, more courses will inevitably be cut, dealing a major blow to academic institutions, educators, and the creative industries.
Since the introduction of the EBacc in 2010, there has been a 30% decline in GCSE music entries and a 45% decline in A-Level music uptake. With arts subjects excluded from the EBacc, schools are choosing to spend more time and resources on non-EBacc subjects. Unsurprisingly, just 3% of school teachers say that the EBacc has had a positive impact on music education. Removing the EBacc’s prioritisation of non-arts subjects will help reverse this damaging decline in music education. For more information click here.
These qualifications offer an industry-informed perspective on music that supports a wide range of learning styles, including students who struggle with traditional exams. These qualifications are increasingly vital, with unfilled roles in music, performing and visual arts rising 17.4% between 2019 and 2022 due to skills shortages. We oppose defunding existing Level 3 vocational music qualifications without adequate alternatives. If the Government continues with Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs), these must prioritise internal assessment to match the flexibility of existing vocational qualifications.
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