House of Lords Committee on Education calls for evidence

At a recent sitting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education (21 March), chaired by Wera Hobhouse MP, attendees were alerted to a House of Lords committee inquiry wanting input from music organisations in light of the dramatic changes affecting our sector, from the EBacc, Progress 8 and falling GCSE numbers to the restructuring of Music Education Hubs.

The Committee on Education for 11- to 16-year-olds was appointed in January 2023 and is chaired by Lord Johnson of Marylebone. The inquiry will consider the challenges and opportunities faced by the secondary education system in England, building on the findings of recent reports.

The Committee has issued a call for evidence on a range of topics in secondary education. These include the breadth of subjects covered; the availability and attractiveness of technical and vocational options; the impact of the system on the motivation of pupils of all abilities; how the school accountability system affects the curriculum; and how the system could be adapted to improve the attractiveness of the teaching profession.

At the APPG meeting, Lord Aberdare urged schools, hubs and other music organisations to submit evidence. The deadline is 30 April 2023 (6pm) and further information, including guidance for submissions, is available from the UK Parliament website:

committees.parliament.uk/work/7268/education-for-1116-year-olds