All children should be able to participate in high-quality music education

We believe it is the right of all children, regardless of background, ability or disability, to be able to participate in accessible, high-quality music education. This is important for everyone, but especially for people with special needs, for whom a tailored music education can offer life-changing support, helping them fulfil their potential, be recognised for their abilities, and draw on music as a health resource throughout their lives.

Music is a vital part of any curriculum, with research showing its importance for wellbeing and the impact it has on our ability to think creatively and work collaboratively. And yet it is becoming increasingly inaccessible to children and young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with special educational needs.

This squeeze on music education also has a potentially devastating effect on our future workforce. It means fewer young people following their passion to become the musicians, music therapists and community musicians of tomorrow. This in turn will mean that fewer vulnerable and isolated people are able to access music therapy. As music teaching retreats into only the best-resourced schools, our workforce risks becoming less diverse and less representative of the people we work with across the UK.

We will continue to raise awareness of this issue and support music education specialists who challenge the narrowing of access to both curriculum music teaching and opportunities for musical participation within schools. As a higher education provider, we will seek to train and employ musicians from more diverse backgrounds. Hand in hand with this, we will work to increase the take-up of music therapy by schools, multi-academy trusts and music education hubs, making musical experiences more available to those who stand to benefit from them most.