Martin Fautley
@proffautley.bsky.social
Emeritus Professor of Music Education, Birmingham City University.
Hooray, goodbye to the wretched EBacc. Gov press release today says: "...removal of the EBacc and reforms to Progress 8 – to encourage students to study a greater breadth of GCSE subjects including the arts..."Good-oh 👍
November 5, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Hooray, goodbye to the wretched EBacc. Gov press release today says: "...removal of the EBacc and reforms to Progress 8 – to encourage students to study a greater breadth of GCSE subjects including the arts..."Good-oh 👍
Fingers crossed the EBacc is consigned to the waste bin...
🚨 THIS WEEK 🚨
The Curriculum and Assessment Review is almost here and the ISM is keen to see how music education is going to grow and develop for the next generation
For 15 years it’s been the ISM vs the EBacc, scrap it now 🗑️
Read our open letter ⬇️
www.ism.org/news/1300-si...
The Curriculum and Assessment Review is almost here and the ISM is keen to see how music education is going to grow and develop for the next generation
For 15 years it’s been the ISM vs the EBacc, scrap it now 🗑️
Read our open letter ⬇️
www.ism.org/news/1300-si...
November 3, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Fingers crossed the EBacc is consigned to the waste bin...
Reposted by Martin Fautley
Read the reaction from co-authors @proffautley.bsky.social and @allydaubney.bsky.social ⬇️
October 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Read the reaction from co-authors @proffautley.bsky.social and @allydaubney.bsky.social ⬇️
Reposted by Martin Fautley
Since 2010, the EBacc has diminished music in schools. For over a decade, we have campaigned tirelessly for reform.
The government has promised to put music back at the heart of our schools. The Curriculum and Assessment Review is the chance to prove it.
The government has promised to put music back at the heart of our schools. The Curriculum and Assessment Review is the chance to prove it.
October 15, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Since 2010, the EBacc has diminished music in schools. For over a decade, we have campaigned tirelessly for reform.
The government has promised to put music back at the heart of our schools. The Curriculum and Assessment Review is the chance to prove it.
The government has promised to put music back at the heart of our schools. The Curriculum and Assessment Review is the chance to prove it.
Strange - and worrying - that these two messages appear side-by-side in my feed this morning:
September 20, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Strange - and worrying - that these two messages appear side-by-side in my feed this morning:
I really, really don't like the sound (or smell!) of this: schoolsweek.co.uk/row-over-new...
Row over new Ofsted ‘high-quality’ research checks
New inspections will judge teacher trainers down if use of 'discredited research' isn't tackled
schoolsweek.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I really, really don't like the sound (or smell!) of this: schoolsweek.co.uk/row-over-new...
Listening to Ed Watkins on latest Music Teachers Association
podcast talking about A-level music grading issues, I hope he manages to make waves about this, as for a while I've been fruitlessly asking about disparity in A* grades awarded between music & maths & getting nowhere! Reposting image:
podcast talking about A-level music grading issues, I hope he manages to make waves about this, as for a while I've been fruitlessly asking about disparity in A* grades awarded between music & maths & getting nowhere! Reposting image:
September 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Listening to Ed Watkins on latest Music Teachers Association
podcast talking about A-level music grading issues, I hope he manages to make waves about this, as for a while I've been fruitlessly asking about disparity in A* grades awarded between music & maths & getting nowhere! Reposting image:
podcast talking about A-level music grading issues, I hope he manages to make waves about this, as for a while I've been fruitlessly asking about disparity in A* grades awarded between music & maths & getting nowhere! Reposting image:
Reposted by Martin Fautley
The ISM has long called for the reform or scrapping of the EBacc and Progress 8.
These measures have marginalised arts subjects in schools. Since 2010, we've seen a dramatic fall in the uptake of music - entries have dropped by 43% at A-level and 30% at GCSE.
These measures have marginalised arts subjects in schools. Since 2010, we've seen a dramatic fall in the uptake of music - entries have dropped by 43% at A-level and 30% at GCSE.
August 8, 2025 at 2:22 PM
The ISM has long called for the reform or scrapping of the EBacc and Progress 8.
These measures have marginalised arts subjects in schools. Since 2010, we've seen a dramatic fall in the uptake of music - entries have dropped by 43% at A-level and 30% at GCSE.
These measures have marginalised arts subjects in schools. Since 2010, we've seen a dramatic fall in the uptake of music - entries have dropped by 43% at A-level and 30% at GCSE.
Reposted by Martin Fautley
In the run up to our #MMConference25, Bridget's blog reflects on the past 9 Years of Music Mark Conferences! 🎤
Bridget shares the wide range of conferences we've had, from different locations across the country to going fully digital in 2020! 📽️
🔗Read the blog: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/bridget...
Bridget shares the wide range of conferences we've had, from different locations across the country to going fully digital in 2020! 📽️
🔗Read the blog: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/bridget...
August 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
In the run up to our #MMConference25, Bridget's blog reflects on the past 9 Years of Music Mark Conferences! 🎤
Bridget shares the wide range of conferences we've had, from different locations across the country to going fully digital in 2020! 📽️
🔗Read the blog: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/bridget...
Bridget shares the wide range of conferences we've had, from different locations across the country to going fully digital in 2020! 📽️
🔗Read the blog: www.musicmark.org.uk/news/bridget...
DfE data out today. Initial back-of-an-envelope analysis shows numbers of trainees achieving QTS in secondary music seems to be the lowest it's been for some years. Not sure what this means for the future of the profession though?
July 31, 2025 at 3:05 PM
DfE data out today. Initial back-of-an-envelope analysis shows numbers of trainees achieving QTS in secondary music seems to be the lowest it's been for some years. Not sure what this means for the future of the profession though?
From 'The Times' obituary of Ozzy Osbourne: "...given that his only accomplishment at school had been to appear in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, he resolved to become a singer..." Wow! (Just thinking of the parts he could have played 🤔)
July 23, 2025 at 11:23 AM
From 'The Times' obituary of Ozzy Osbourne: "...given that his only accomplishment at school had been to appear in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, he resolved to become a singer..." Wow! (Just thinking of the parts he could have played 🤔)
Reposted by Martin Fautley
24 composing challenges for young people this summer. Unleash their creativity! resources.bcmg.org.uk/creating-mus...
July 22, 2025 at 7:41 PM
24 composing challenges for young people this summer. Unleash their creativity! resources.bcmg.org.uk/creating-mus...
Been thinking again about where schools have a requirement for 'assessment lessons' in music, and how this fits with notions of coherence/consistency. If a school has requirements for an assessment lesson every six weeks: if said school has 1 hour lessons, teaches ... 1/2
June 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Been thinking again about where schools have a requirement for 'assessment lessons' in music, and how this fits with notions of coherence/consistency. If a school has requirements for an assessment lesson every six weeks: if said school has 1 hour lessons, teaches ... 1/2
In recognition of it being the centenary of the birth of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, am listening to his versions of BWV56, 4, and a personal favourite, BWV82. Ahh....
May 28, 2025 at 10:44 AM
In recognition of it being the centenary of the birth of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, am listening to his versions of BWV56, 4, and a personal favourite, BWV82. Ahh....
This piece from @drlizstafford.bsky.social gets a hooray from me for dissing the "music is a universal language" nonsense! 👍
My latest for Music Teacher Magazine www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/feat...
Musical identity and inclusivity in schools - Music Teacher
Would you feel comfortable teaching K-pop, drill or grime? Dr Liz Stafford explores the importance of musical diversity in the classroom and asserts that giving students a sense of ownership of their ...
www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk
May 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This piece from @drlizstafford.bsky.social gets a hooray from me for dissing the "music is a universal language" nonsense! 👍
This Music Teacher article makes for sobering reading "Nearly half of the teachers reported a decline in extracurricular music participation over the past five years. The story is the same for instrumental lessons, with 45% noting a drop". Article at www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/news...
Music teachers sound the alarm on declining access and support - Music Teacher
The survey 'Growing Musicians, Shaping Lives’, conducted by magazines Music Teacher and Gramophone, reveals stark warnings about declining student participation, underfunded programmes, and widespread...
www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk
May 13, 2025 at 10:02 AM
This Music Teacher article makes for sobering reading "Nearly half of the teachers reported a decline in extracurricular music participation over the past five years. The story is the same for instrumental lessons, with 45% noting a drop". Article at www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/news...
Lots of fascinating things in this piece from @drlizstafford.bsky.social as well as quite a lot of food for thought re the future of music education in England
"It’s difficult, and might be considered unwise, to venture an opinion on a proposal that is so scant on detail at present. Conversely one might argue that this is the perfect time for our voices to be heard." tinyurl.com/2r3ds94u @drlizstafford.bsky.social
May 9, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Lots of fascinating things in this piece from @drlizstafford.bsky.social as well as quite a lot of food for thought re the future of music education in England
Tonight seems to be a night for Fischer-Dieskau and BWV 82 - Ich habe genug
May 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Tonight seems to be a night for Fischer-Dieskau and BWV 82 - Ich habe genug
Brilliant news!
🎉 Exciting news! BCMG has been awarded £200,000 from Paul Hamlyn Foundation to take Listen Imagine Compose Primary to new schools. Our research partners, BCU, will study how the LICP approach can be embedded and sustained in schools. To get involved, visit www.bcmg.org.uk/listen-imagi...
May 7, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Brilliant news!
Composing at Key Stage 2: the LICP legacy: www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/feat...
Composing at Key Stage 2: the LICP legacy - Music Teacher
Used to leading and assessing creative education projects, Richard Barnard was a composer on the award-winning Listen Imagine Compose Primary. Here he describes his new role at Bristol Beacon, integra...
www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk
May 2, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Composing at Key Stage 2: the LICP legacy: www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/feat...
Hooray - as Geoff says; "The arts must be brought back from the curricular margins, and the EBacc measure that consigned them there needs to be scrapped." In music ed some of us have been saying that for a good while!
“Oracy and the arts can be focal points for breathing new life into the curriculum as a whole. Here’s how …”: my @schoolsweek.bsky.social column: schoolsweek.co.uk/how-to-embed...
How the Francis review can embed oracy across the curriculum
Doing is crucial for democracy, equity, inclusion and bringing joy to classrooms
schoolsweek.co.uk
April 26, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Hooray - as Geoff says; "The arts must be brought back from the curricular margins, and the EBacc measure that consigned them there needs to be scrapped." In music ed some of us have been saying that for a good while!
I know it sounds pedantic to privilege the verbal form, but in music classroom terms, I think using the word "composing" matters in the school classroom, as I explain in www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/qa/q...
April 25, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I know it sounds pedantic to privilege the verbal form, but in music classroom terms, I think using the word "composing" matters in the school classroom, as I explain in www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/qa/q...
Nice piece in Music Teacher Mag in which I am interviewed about being honoured with the lifetime achievement award for music education. Trouble with being interviewed is you can’t edit what you said –anyway here is what tumbled out of my mouth! www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/qa/q...
Q&A: Professor Martin Fautley - Music Teacher
If anyone knows the challenges facing music education, it is professor Martin Fautley. After more than 40 years as a practitioner, researcher and teacher trainer – which led to his receiving the Music...
www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk
April 17, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Nice piece in Music Teacher Mag in which I am interviewed about being honoured with the lifetime achievement award for music education. Trouble with being interviewed is you can’t edit what you said –anyway here is what tumbled out of my mouth! www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/qa/q...
I see we are to get a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education. This could be interesting, although I have no idea what it will be, or what it will do?
March 18, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I see we are to get a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education. This could be interesting, although I have no idea what it will be, or what it will do?
Happy Birthday, The Mikado! 14/3/1885 First performance. Picture from last week's show by Birmingham Savoyards at the Old Rep in Brum.
March 14, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Happy Birthday, The Mikado! 14/3/1885 First performance. Picture from last week's show by Birmingham Savoyards at the Old Rep in Brum.