ISM’s Deborah Annetts calls for policy changes to support music education

ISM chief executive Deborah Annetts has used a speech delivered to the Delivering Excellence in Teaching Arts in Schools conference to set out a new template for future education policy. The speech is the first major policy contribution from the ISM, who are the subject association for music, since new Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, and Schools Minister, Robin Walker, were appointed last month.

Speaking to an audience of teachers and senior leaders, Annetts highlighted the failings of the EBacc, called on the government to reform accountability measures and spoke of the importance of wellbeing in holistic education.

Much of the speech concentrated on the damaging impact that the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) has had on arts education. From all the published data the EBacc is failing on its own terms. Progress 8 - an accountability measure brought in in 2016 to measure the effectiveness of secondary schools in England - has also disincentivised schools from offering arts subjects as they are not included in the accountability measure. This has led to a startling fall in take up of arts subjects between 2014 and 2021, with all arts subjects falling 28%, design and technology 59%, drama 21% and music 17%.

Despite the difficulties facing music education the ISM believes that there’s an opportunity for new thinking in the Department for Education. Annetts this morning described it as ‘a golden opportunity for the DfE to reverse the damaging policies of the last decade.’ 

A proposed example of a new direction would be moving from Progress 8 to Progress 5: 'We need to reform accountability measures such as Progress 8 so that Arts education can be supported not restricted and to allow for parity of subject status. Reducing the number of subjects included in such measures to maths, English and science – a Progress 5 – would help maintain the broad and balanced curriculum until the end of Key Stage 4, and allow pupils more flexibility in their subject choices to better reflect their interests, talents and future plans.'

Summarising the need for an education system fit for the future, Annetts ended her speech by quoting Rabindranath Tagore: ‘Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time’.

The ideas in Deborah Annetts’ speech today will be expanded upon at the ISM Trust’s free, online music education conference on Saturday 27 November, 10am-4.30pm. 'Where to next for music education?' which will bring together teachers and experts from across the UK to discuss the issues, opportunities and challenges that music educators currently face. Book tickets here.