DfE launches £5.8m music education programme 

Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds or with special educational needs will get targeted support to unlock their musical potential, as part of a four-year pilot programme announced by the Department for Eduction (DfE).

The Music Opportunities Pilot will expand on an existing programme run by charity Young Sounds UK – called Young Sounds Connect – which offers pupils across primary and secondary schools the opportunity to learn to play an instrument of their choice or how to sing through free lessons.

The £5.8m programme, which will run across 12 areas including Sunderland, Bury, Bradford and Stoke on Trent, is being co-funded by the government alongside partners including Young Sounds UK, Arts Council England and Youth Music.

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News of the pilot follows the launch in July of an independent review of what is taught in schools in England as part of government efforts to make arts and creativity central to the education system.

Catherine McKinnell, School Standards Minister at the Department for Education said investing in young people nurtures individual talent and can help secure the future of the UK music scene by fostering a deep appreciation for music from an early age.  

"Alongside our Curriculum and Assessment Review, the Music Opportunities Pilot will help break down the barriers to opportunity by widening access to the arts for more young people across the country," she said.

Young Sounds UK will work in collaboration with local Music Hub partners to deliver the programme.

Arts Minister Chris Bryant said: "Supporting young people to become musicians is invaluable in various creative and other industries. 

"It fuels innovation and excellence in the broader creative landscape, contributing to the UK’s world class reputation as a global hub for the arts."