HC Deb 14 July 1992 vol 211 c558W
Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give an estimate of the number of school hours devoted to music in state schools and the total number of music teachers for each year since 1981; and if he will make a statement on the future of music teaching in state schools.

Mr. Forth

Information is not available in the form requested.

A primary school staffing survey was undertaken in 1987 and secondary school staffing surveys in 1984 and in 1988. These surveys indicated that there were 15,200 full-time teachers with a post A-level qualification in music in maintained nursery and primary schools in England in 1987. In maintained secondary schools in England, there were 9,300 music teachers in 1984, and 7,100 music teachers in 1988. In maintained primary schools in 1987, 4.8 per cent. of time in junior classes was devoted to music. In maintained secondary schools in England in 1988, the proportion of pupil periods devoted to music varied by year group as follows:

Year group Percentage of pupil periods devoted to music
7 5.1
8 4.5
9 3.4
10 0.9
11 0.7
12–13 0.8

A further secondary schools staffing survey was undertaken in 1992. It is hoped to publish the findings early in 1993.

The introduction from autumn 1992 of statutory attainment targets and programmes of study for music will provide a rigorous and challenging framework for the teaching of music in maintained schools, within which aspirations and standards will be raised and the range of skills, knowledge and understanding widened.