Facing The Music: Meeting the ambitions of the National Plan for Music Education

In May 2024, we commissioned an independent think tank, Demos, to cost the English National Plan for Music Education. This research will allow us to understand the full costs associated with the government’s National Plan and therefore the real level of support needed for providers to deliver the plan. 

Demos has revealed that the government has inherited a “black hole” in its budget for music education amounting to a £161.4m shortfall. Researchers found that the National Plan for Music Education was short of £32.3m per year to cover the costs of regional Music Hubs – partnerships of music services, music departments, venues, clubs and other organisations. A total of £161.4m in new and hidden costs is needed over the next five years to ensure the future of music education.

Titled The Power of Music to Change Lives, the refreshed National Plan for Music Education (NPME) in England was released on 25 June 2022 by the Department for Education. It replaced the previous NPME which was published in 2011. The plan sets out the government’s vision to enable all children and young people in England to: 

• learn to sing, play an instrument and create music together 
• have the opportunity to progress their musical interests and talents, including professionally 

Panel Event

A Panel Event took place on 10th February 2025 as part of the launch of the report. The panel consisted of Billy Huband-Thompson, Bridget Whyte, Bambos Charalambous MP, Anna Sabine MP, Charlotte Payne, and Jenetta Hurst. You can watch a recording of the session below.