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(Re)conceptualising an integrated music education ecosystem in England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2026

Adam Whittaker Open the ORCID record for Adam Whittaker [Opens in a new window] ,
Anthony Anderson ,
Victoria Kinsella  and
Martin Fautley
Adam Whittaker*
Affiliation:
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham City University, UK
Anthony Anderson
Affiliation:
Department of Education, Birmingham City University, UK
Victoria Kinsella
Affiliation:
Department of Education, Birmingham City University, UK
Martin Fautley
Affiliation:
Department of Education, Birmingham City University, UK
*
Corresponding author: Adam Whittaker; Email: adam.whittaker@bcu.ac.uk
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Abstract

Conceptualising music education in England as an ecosystem was central to the 2022 National Plan for Music Education. Provision spans in-school and out-of-school settings, delivered by schools, Music Hubs, charities and specialist providers. Local specificities and a complex patchwork of providers mean that there are multiple different stakeholders in helping young people to develop musically. Drawing on a decade of research, this paper reconceptualises the ecosystem by centring the young person. The proposed model is intentionally open to critique to stimulate discussion and refinement within England and in international contexts with similarly complex, multi-provider music education systems worldwide.

Keywords

Music education ecosystemyoung person-centred learningmusic education structuresmusic education hubsmusical development

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Type
Article
Information
British Journal of Music Education , Volume 43 , Issue 1 , March 2026 , pp. 32 - 45
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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