To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of (a) Key Stage 1 and (b) Key Stage 2 pupils received specialist instrumental or vocal tuition in each of the last five years. (313770)

[holding answer 28 January 2010]: There is no requirement for schools to provide this information, though the following data are available from information which local authorities voluntarily report to the National Music Participation Director in connection with their Local Authority Music Plans. Local authorities had predicted that 22 per cent. of their Key Stage 2 pupils would participate in their Wider Opportunities programmes in 2008-09, and have since reported that the actual figure was 24 per cent. that is 509,628 pupils. For 2009/10 the predicted figure is 31 per cent. The actual numbers will be reported to the National Music Participation Director by November 2010 and the percentage then calculated using the figure for total Key Stage 2 pupil numbers.

84 per cent. of primary schools have now signed up to ‘Sing Up’.