15.08.2024: UK Music congratulated the thousands of students who received their music A-level results today – and repeated its call for more action to hire an army of new music teachers.

UK Music’s Director of Education and Skills, Dr Oliver Morris, said: 

“It’s welcome news that the number of students taking music A-level in England, Wales and Northern Ireland rose from 5,493 in 2023 to 5,517 this year – but this only represents a very modest increase of 0.4%.

“This rise follows a long-term decline in the number of A-level music entries which has fallen from 8,375 in 2014 to 5,517 in 2024 – a decline of 34%.”

In Scotland, the results (published on August 6) for Highers, the Scottish equivalent of A-Levels, also showed a small rise in the numbers studying music from 5,060 in 2023 to 5,180 in 2024.

Dr Morris added: “A huge shout out also to all those getting results for vocational qualifications today – including students of our valued MAP (Music Academic Partnership) members – the UAL Awarding Body, RSL Awards, West Suffolk College, Access Creative College, The BRIT School and the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.  They are all a super important part of the talent pipeline. 

“Despite these qualifications – along with the academic qualifications – facing certain challenges,  it has been another year of student success stories. Students who will go on to university, apprenticeships, and employment in the booming creative industries.

“As Miriam Venner Head of Academic Standards at UAL told me: ‘ It’s great to see another year of strong outcomes for our Music Performance and Production students across the country.’

“Their achievements should be celebrated as part of a broad group of vocational learners within the sector and are testament to their hard work and the support of their dedicated music teachers.”

“As a specialist Awarding Body, we recognise the importance of a broad curriculum with music and creativity at its heart.”

Dr Morris added: “Despite this year’s welcome increase in the number of A-level music students, and strong offerings in vocational qualifications, the long-term trend is concerning.

“Thousands of children are missing out on the joy of learning a music instrument and the possibility of a rewarding career in music because of a shortage of music teachers.

“We need the Westminster government to invest in new music teachers to give children and young people the opportunity they deserve to make the most of their talents and help secure the future of the talent pipeline on which the music industry relies.

“We also call upon governments across the UK to ensure access to music remains a key pillar of a young person’s education.

“You can find out more about what we’d like to see implemented to help boost music in schools in our Manifesto for Music.”

UPDATE:

The GCSE results were published on August 22.  They showed an 8.7% rise in the number of students taking GCSE Music in England, Wales and Northern Ireland from 32,980 in 2023 to 35,861 in 2024. The total number of GCSE students rose by 4.8%. There has been a fall of 27% in the number of students taking music GCSE since 2014, when 47,125 took the exam.

Find out more about UK Music’s education and skills work here. 

You can find out more about UK Music’s music education campaigning here.