Funding for the Music Hub Network

The English network of Music Hubs has today received confirmation of funding for the rest of this financial year (April 2025 to March 2026) but will have to wait a little longer to know what will be available to complete programmes of activity across this school year.   

Funding for Music Hubs was moved to an academic year basis in 2023/24 to recognise the planning processes involved in working in the education sector. However, confirmation from the Department for Education (DfE) of the funding from September 2025 to August 2026 was being delayed as it required confirmation of 2026/27 financial year budgets for government departments which would not be available until the completion of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). In an email to Music Hub Lead Organisations sent today – Friday 23rd May 2025 – Arts Council England (who manage the Music Hub Programme on behalf of the DfE) confirmed that government had agreed to maintain funding at the same level until the end of March 2026 with funding beyond that period being announced following the CSR statement on the 11th June. We hope the completion of the CSR also brings further clarity from the DfE on the new National Centre for Arts and Music Education and that the funding available for this will reflect the government’s ambitions for young people and the creative industries.

The funding formula which is used to calculate exactly how much each Music Hub will receive is based on pupil numbers and so exact allocations may differ if there has been pupil migration, but news that funding for the Music Hub programme has been confirmed will be welcomed by the Music Hub Lead Organisations and their many delivery partners. Music Mark has been pressing the DfE for news on funding beyond August 2025 for some time, recognising the challenges a delay was creating with budgeting, planning and the recruitment and retention of music educators.  

Following the publication of the Demos Report in February 2025, Music Mark has been advocating to the Government that it needs to demonstrate its commitment to music education with recognition of the impact of standstill funding over many years. Whilst the reported fiscal challenges are understood and the real possibility of funding cuts was acknowledged, the reality is that to provide a meaningful, accessible and diverse music education to all children and young people across England is not achievable without further investment. Costs of provision, in particular, ensuring the excellent workforce of music educators are valued through realistic terms and conditions, has increased with no recognition within funding allocated for that provision.   

It is hoped that this short-term funding confirmation will ensure that the Music Hub Network remains stable and viable. However, Music Mark is now looking to the next funding announcement from the DfE which needs to provide a longer-term funding settlement to provide the Hub network with greater stability. Music Mark also calls on the DfE to ensure that the support offered to schools for their teacher salaries is reflected in its support for the amazing network of music teachers working in our Hub network. 

Music Mark’s CEO stated ‘We hope that what comes next will be increased and a much longer-term investment, matching the ambitions of the government’s manifesto promises around opportunities for all children and young people to access music, values the workforce who create those opportunities and provides stability which allows for progression pathways to be built and supported.’