§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Education how many hours on average of music education were available per pupil in(a) infant, (b) primary and (c) secondary schools in 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92; and if he will make a statement on Government policy in this area.
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe information requested for infant and junior schools is not centrally available.
Information is available for 1992 for secondary schools from the secondary schools staffing surveys which collected data from representative samples of maintained secondary schools in England. The table shows the percentage of total pupil periods recorded as having been spent on music for pupils in each year group.
923W
Year group January 1992 7 4.2 8 4.0 9 3.4 10 0.8 11 0.8 Music is a foundation subject in the national curriculum. For the first time, all pupils will complete a full and rigorous course in music, up to the age of 14. After 14, schools can offer pupils the opportunity to study music if they so wish.