ISM MUSIC JOURNAL NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 | NEWS & CAMPAIGNS
News & campaigns
Music education
See page 10 for more information about our conference in November, which focuses on music education
In a keynote speech to an audience of teachers and senior leaders, Deborah Annetts highlighted the failings of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), called on Government to reform accountability measures and spoke of the importance of wellbeing in holistic education. Despite the difficulties facing music education Annetts said that the ISM believes there’s a ‘golden opportunity’ for new thinking in the Department for Education. Suggestions included moving from Progress 8 to Progress 5 which would ‘help maintain the broad and balanced curriculum until the end of Key Stage 4.’ Read the full speech: ism.org/news/full-textof-deborah-annetts-delivering-excellence-inteaching-arts-in-schools-keynote-speech
Exam results and music entries Following A-Level and GCSE exam results in August the ISM analysed data on exam entry levels and highlighted concerning trends in the number of students taking music exams. The statistics show GCSE music entries have fallen by a staggering 19% since 2011 in England, Wales and
4
Northern Ireland combined. Meanwhile in Scotland, music entries to the National 5s have increased by 8% since 2020 and 10% since 2016. Statistics released by the Joint Council for Qualifications ( JCQ) revealed that the number of candidates for A-level music has dramatically fallen by 44% since 2011. In Scotland entries for music Highers have increased by 2.5% since 2020, and 0.7% since 2016 and Advanced Highers have increased by 13% since 2020 and 11% since 2016 according to figures released by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). This prompted the ISM to call for ‘urgent reform’ to the EBacc or for it to be scrapped altogether because it does not include creative subjects. ISM chief executive Deborah Annetts said of the results data, ‘The Government continues to preside over a dramatic decline in music education and is clinging onto its EBacc agenda, no matter the consequences. It’s time for urgent reform of the EBacc to include music and creative subjects, or it should be scrapped altogether.’ Despite the testing circumstances, the ISM thanks all music teachers and students for their work during the last 12 months. Read the ISM’s analysis on our website: ism.org/news/ism-concern-music-gcse-decline
