A-level music 'could disappear' after entries sink to record low

Entries for A-level music have plummeted to a record low, data has shown.

Just 4,635 students entered the qualification this year, down from 4,875 last year, according to Ofqual’s provisional entries data for the 2026 summer exams series.

Now the government has been criticised for inaction, with the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) warning that A-level music could “disappear from schools altogether” should the downward trend continue.

Tes analysis shows that since 2013, the take-up of A-level music has plummeted by 41 per cent.

The data indicates a steady decline in the take-up of the qualification, with Ofqual’s entries data showing that 7,810 students took A-level music in 2013, followed by 7,350 in 2014.

The number of entries fell in the next two years but remained over 6,000. In every year between 2017 and 2022, there were over 5,000 entries, before numbers dipped to 4,945 in 2023.

After a slight uptick in 2024, once again exceeding 5,000 students, the entries dropped again to 4,875 last year, before the record low of 4,635 this summer.

GCSE music numbers also falling

Entries into GCSE music also reduced by 1.3 per cent this year, with 34,120 students taking the qualification.

Since 2013, there have only been two years (2023 and 2024) when fewer GCSE students took music as a qualification.

From 2013 to 2016, entries into GCSE music exceeded 41,000 every year, but these levels have not been replicated since.

The findings have prompted concerns over the future of music in schools, with the ISM calling for “urgent action”.

ISM CEO Deborah Annetts said: “These figures are yet another sign that we must address the decline of music education in England.

“The stakes could not be higher, because if this trend continues, A-level music could disappear from schools altogether.”

‘Urgent action needed’

Ms Annetts added: “The government says it wants music to flourish in all schools, but has shown none of the action required to meet this ambition.

“We need urgent action from government so every child has access to high-quality music education in school.”

The ISM said uptake of A-level music had nearly halved since 2010. This was the year the English Baccalaureate was introduced, which the ISM said had since been “incentivising schools to focus on a set of subjects that excluded music and all arts subjects”.

It also highlighted that over a third of schools in England do not offer GCSE music.

Last year, the Francis curriculum and assessment review recommended that the government revise the content of music qualifications to “ensure a curriculum pathway which gives all pupils a rigorous foundation in musical understanding and enables broader access to further study at key stage 4”.

The Francis review also advised that the government explore how it could “better optimise” investment in music education to ensure equitable access and progression.