Young musicians are to be supported with a new music curriculum and funds for music provision in their area, the government announced today.

A new model music curriculum for children aged 5 to 14 will be created by an independent panel of experts. It is due to be published in the summer of 2019.

And there will be a £1.33 million funding boost for the Department for Education music hubs, on top of their existing funding. The 120 music hubs co-ordinate music provision between schools, teachers and music organisations in their area.

The panel overseeing the development of the model curriculum includes cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, Professor Linda Merrick, principal of the Royal Northern College of Music and Naveed Idrees, the headteacher of Bradford’s Feversham Primary Academy, which has raised results with a music-led curriculum. It will be chaired by Veronica Wadley, former chair of the Arts Council London.

Nick Gibb, schools standards minister, said: “All pupils at least up to the age of 14 should study music in school. We want to make sure their lessons are of the very highest quality and pupils leave school having experienced an excellent music education so those who wish to do so can take up opportunities to pursue musical careers.

"This new model curriculum and the new money for our successful music hubs will make sure the next generation of Adeles, Nigel Kennedys and Alex Turners have all the support they need in school.”

The announcement comes after growing concerns about the lack of music in schools, with recent research from Sussex University showing that the majority of schools no longer have compulsory music lessons in Year 9 – down from 84 per cent six years ago, and almost one in five (18 per cent) do not offer GCSE music.

The panel overseeing development of the model curriculum will be made up of:

• Veronica Wadley (chair), former chairman of Arts Council, London, council member of the Royal College of Music, governor of the Yehudi Menuhin School and co-founder of the London Music Fund.
• Carolyn Baxendale, head of Bolton Music service and lead for Greater Manchester Music Education Hub.
• Karen Brock, head of the Tower Hamlets arts and music education service.
• Michael Elliott, chief executive, ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music).
• Peter Garden, executive director performance and learning, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
• Naveed Idrees, headteacher, Feversham Primary Academy, Bradford.
• Julian Lloyd Webber, cellist, conductor and principal, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
• Professor Linda Merrick, principal, Royal Northern College of Music.
• Paul Roberts, national council member, Arts Council England.
• Ian Rowe, principal, Bromley Youth Music Trust.
• James Thomas, head of Hackney Music Service.
• Simon Toyne, executive director of music, David Ross Education Trust and president-elect, MMA Music Teachers.
• Ed Watkins, director of music, West London Free School.
• Bridget Whyte, chief executive, UK Association for Music Education – Music Mark.