§ Mr. WoolasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his Department's policy on the future provision and funding of music teachers in primary schools. [47071]
§ Mr. ByersFunding for the teaching of music in the primary school curriculum will continue to be included in schools' budget shares. Initial teacher training courses for music teachers will continue to be funded through the Teacher Training Agency.
Our requirements for initial teacher training, which we announced in June 1997, will allow trainees to specialise across the 7–11 age range. From this September primary teachers will be able to specialise in music as part of their course. The new standards for Qualified Teacher Status, which all trainees will be required to achieve, will ensure that they are equipped with appropriate subject knowledge, understanding and skills.
Instrumental music tuition by external teachers may be purchased by schools, but as announced in the recent consultation paper "Fair Funding: Improving Delegation to Schools", the Government are considering the scope to offer protection for LEA music services through the Standards Fund.