The first session of the APPG for Music Education of 2022 took place on 1 March. 

​The meeting took place virtually and was well attended by politicians and the music education sector with just under 90 attendees in total. The meeting was chaired by The Earl of Clancarty.

Presentations were delivered by:

• Georgina Burt, England Development Manager, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
• Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive, Incorporated Society of Musicians
• Phil Castang, Director of Creative Learning & Engagement at Bristol Beacon, Chair of the Music Education Council (MEC) 

On 2 November, the APPG for Music Education held its AGM. 

Before the formal election/re-election of the officers, ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts welcomed attending Parliamentarians to the AGM, and gave a brief overview of the music education landscape across the UK. 

Deborah invited attendees to the free, education conference organised by the ISM on the 27 November 2021, and informed attendees that the APPG will be organising an APPG meeting in the near future with presentations from speakers within the sector.

The APPG's registered chair Diana Johnson MP then chaired the election of officers, where all officers were re-elected to serve on the APPG with David Warburton MP elected as Co-Chair.

FULL TEXT OF DEBORAH ANNETTS' 'DELIVERING EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING ARTS IN SCHOOLS' KEYNOTE SPEECH

ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts has used a keynote address on ‘Supporting Creative Subjects in the School Curriculum’ delivered to the Delivering Excellence in Teaching Arts in Schools conference to set out a new template for future education policy.

The speech is the first major policy contribution from the ISM, who are the subject association for music, since appointments of Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, and Schools Minister, Robin Walker.

Speaking to an audience of teachers and senior leaders, Annetts highlighted the failings of the EBacc, called on Government to reform accountability measures and spoke of the importance of wellbeing in holistic education.

The keynote was covered by Music Teacher magazine and you can read the speech in full below
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This year’s first APPG for Music Education meeting was held virtually on 25 May 2021. The meeting was chaired by Lord Black, following apologies from Dame Diana Johnson who was unable to attend.
Presentations were delivered by:

• Dr Jodie Underhill, Researcher, Incorporated Society of Musicians
• Kevin Rogers, music education specialist
• Professor Nathan Holder, music education consultant
• David Ward, managing director of Technology in Music Education (TiME)
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Dr Jodie Underhill opened the discussion by speaking about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on music provision in schools. Dr Underhill presented the findings of the recent ISM report, ‘The heart of the school is missing’. The report, published at the end of 2020, revealed the worrying decline of music delivery in school settings since the pandemic.

Dr Underhill concluded by highlighting the very real impact that the pandemic has had on the health and wellbeing of teachers and students alike, and the need to be aware of this issue as class teaching begins to resume in full.

Kevin Rogers spoke next about the recently published Model Music Curriculum within the context of the government’s music education framework and wider policies and initiatives. Mr Rogers concluded his presentation by outlining that the music education sector needs a complete curriculum framework through a refreshed National Plan for Music Education. He stressed that this should be designed by the wider music education community before publication.

David Ward, managing director of Technology in Music Education (TiME), gave a brief presentation into the application of music technology in the delivery of music education.

Professor Nate Holder, music education consultant, author, and advocate for decolonising music education, spoke on the importance of critically engaging with the music curriculum and its colonial past.

Professor Holder spoke about the dominance of a white, Western European and American knowledge base and history in both the curriculum and outlook within music education. He went on to consider the need to challenge this dominance to address the issue of underrepresentation in both educational resources and music education spaces.
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John Robinson concluded by emphasising the need to listen, reflect critically and act to achieve change the sector is calling for. Mr Robinson noted that opportunities to implement meaningful change must not be missed. 

 Due to coronavirus restrictions the APPG for Music Education was postponed from March and took place virtually on 14 July 2020. The APPG for Music Education was chaired by Dame Diana Johnson MP.

After the AGM for the election/re-election of officers, presentations were given by Dr Ally Daubney and Duncan Mackrill from the University of Sussex, Sue Beckett, Chief Executive Officer of Portsmouth Music Hub, John Bergin, Chief Executive Officer of Newham Music Hub, Dr Jodie Underhill, Independent Researcher and Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

Dr Ally Daubney opened her presentation on the state of music education within the national curriculum pre-COVID-19 and the pressures faced by schools due to government accountability measures and the EBacc. She explained that government policy has marginalised music in the school curriculum and referenced the APPG’s State of the Nation report. 
Dr Daubney concluded that now is the time for a new National Plan for Music Education, which would ensure all young people can access sustained high-quality music education, augmented and supported through the network of Music Education Hubs. 

Duncan Mackrill from the University of Sussex spoke next on the key issues for Music Education Hubs in England. Mr Mackrill concluded his presentation by setting out five recommendations for how the challenges for Hubs might be addressed, which is dependent on clarity regarding the future of Hub funding. These include:

1. Sharing of digital practices between Hubs and schools;
2. Clear timely guidance on safeguarding from DfE;
3. ACE asking Hubs to account for how they have used their grant in this period; 
4. Ending the de-professionalisation of visiting instrumental teachers taking place in some Hubs;
5. A revised National Plan for Music Education.

Sue Beckett and John Bergin spoke of their experiences within their respective music hubs and the current challenges they are facing and those they have overcome as well as continuing to deliver music services to children and young adults.

Ms Beckett concluded her presentation by outlining what is needed to help Hubs move forward; a focus on securing Arts Council funding for the future, clear and direct guidance so that schools can allow for curriculum, whole-class, instrumental and vocal teaching to take place safely including enabling ensemble music making for schools and music centres to recommence safely, as well as an increased means of supporting inclusion and enabling all young people to access music regardless of their circumstances.

Mr Bergin stated that funding needs to be in place now, so that music and the arts can continue to change lives, helping young people’s emotional and mental wellbeing and bringing communities together.

Dr Jodie Underhill, Research Associate for the ISM, briefly outlined the ISM’s recently commissioned global literature review which studies the current research and information relating to COVID-19, transmission and risk management in both the performance and music education space. She noted that the document is not intended to provide guidance but to highlight the information that is out there.

​Deborah Annetts concluded that going forward the group needs be clear on the core messages around the importance of classroom education. Ms Annetts urged those involved in classroom education to work with the ISM to get the message right on why classroom education matters so that it does not get marginalised as a result of COVID-19. Ms Annetts shared her concern that COVID-19 could push forward the agenda around core subjects, which does not promote a broad and balanced education for children. 

Please find the official minutes for the APPG for Music Education below
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On Wednesday 16 October the APPG for Music Education held its annual general meeting. Due to another pressing commitment Diana Johnson, the APPG's regular chair, was unavailable so Lyn Brown, Member of Parliament for West Ham kindly deputised. 

After the formal election/re-election of the officers, the first speaker, Sir Nicholas Serota, talked about the Durham Commission's report into creativity and education and explained the commissions' findings on how creativity has a extremely important role to play within schools. Bridget Whyte CEO of Music Mark then discussed the future of Music Education Hubs and how they are in need of increased funding and in danger of collapse if they are not provided with more money in the 2020 spending review. Finally, Dr Naomi Bath gave a speech on Brexit and how it may negatively affect music education in the UK. A brief Q&A was taken following the speeches. 

The AGM for the APPG for Music Education will be held on 16 October 2019 on the Parliamentary Estate.

​Please note this is not a public meeting. If you are interested in attending, please contact [email protected].

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education held its second meeting of 2019 on Wednesday 19 June. APPG Chair Diana Johnson, MP for Kingston upon Hull North, introduced Ian C. Lucas, MP for Wrexham and a member of the DCMS Select Committee, to talk about the Committee’s two latest reports, titled Live Music (March 2019) and The Social Impact of Participation in Culture and Sport (May 2019).

The meeting then heard from Zena Creed, Director of Communications and External Relations at The Russell Group who explained the recent changes to the Russell Group's subject choice guidance including the decision to drop facilitating subjects.
The meeting also heard from Dr Alison Daubney, Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Sussex who discussed Ofsted's new education inspection framework which will be introduced in September 2019. Dr Daubney also stated that music is the fastest disappearing A-Level subject, citing the recent research commissioned by the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. The research revealed that A-Level music uptake was most common amongst those who live in economically advantaged communities.
This was followed by questions which predominantly related to increasing funding and support in schools and music hubs as well as ensuring the government recognises the EBacc is damaging music in schools.
The APPG would like to thank everyone who attended for their contributions.
​Download Dr Ally Daubney's presentation from the meeting.

Berlioz 150, the charity chaired by APPG Secretary Lord Aberdare, is organising a celebration event to mark the 150th anniversary of French composer Hector Berlioz’s death, which falls on 8 March 2019.

The event will be held at the French Institute in South Kensington in London on Thursday 7 March from 7:00 to 9:00pm.

Members of the APPG would be most welcome, together with a partner or guest if desired. If you are interested in attending, please email [email protected] to reserve a ticket.