Features

Special report: oral evidence to the House of Commons Education Committee on changes to music hubs

MT editor Phil Croydon reflects on the proceedings in Westminster
John de la Cour, chair of board of trustees, Severn Arts; Carolyn Baxendale MBE, head, Bolton Music Service; Andrew Lane, managing director, Dynamics Medway; and Michael Summers, manager of music education, Durham Music Service
John de la Cour, chair of board of trustees, Severn Arts; Carolyn Baxendale MBE, head, Bolton Music Service; Andrew Lane, managing director, Dynamics Medway; and Michael Summers, manager of music education, Durham Music Service

The Education Committee, formed of eight cross-party Members of Parliament, met on 21 May to investigate the creation of 43 Hub Lead Organisations as part of the Music Hub Investment Programme. The programme is designed to support the revised (2022) National Plan for Music Education.

The Committee heard evidence from three panels of witnesses: music hubs, national sector organisations, and the government.

In the first panel session, the music hub representatives illustrated how some will benefit from the changes while others will not. They also depicted a process that was bureaucratic, time-consuming, and ambitious given the time-scale. However, all praised the guiding principles of the National Plan and its ambition for cross-sector collaboration.

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