Music must be included in the English Baccalaureate

Wednesday 9 March 2011

The ISM has warned that music risks being pushed out of the classroom and devalued if it is not included in the English Baccalaureate.

The ISM, in partnership with Conservatoires UK, has just submitted evidence warning of these possible negative consequences, to the House of Commons Education Select Committee’s Inquiry into the English Baccalaureate.

The warning coincides with Nick Gibb, schools minister, saying that the Government was ‘open to arguments’ and would ‘review the precise definition of the English Baccalaureate’.

The ISM launched a campaign last month calling for music to be included within the English Baccalaureate, in response to concerns raised by its members. Recent figures obtained by the ISM show that – of those expressing an opinion - 55% of music educators and professional musicians have already noticed a reduction in GCSE applicants.

Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the ISM said:

‘Darren Henley’s independent review of music education was unequivocal in its warning about the risk excluding music from the English Baccalaureate poses.

‘Our research shows that the English Baccalaureate is already having a damaging effect on music in schools. Given the Secretary of State’s commitment to music education and the Government’s statement that “music is an enriching and valuable academic subject”, we are continuing to call for music to be included.

‘It would be a great shame, and a great irony, if we end up with a situation whereby our students can translate Plato’s Republic but not engage in its content, which places music at the heart of learning.’