Letter to Baggy Shanker October 2025

Dear Baggy Shanker MP,

I am writing to express my profound disappointment and concern at the recent decision by the government to withdraw the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) bursary for music from the 2026/27 academic year.

This move is not merely a budget cut—it sends a clear signal that creative education is no longer prioritised in our schools.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister stated publicly: "I want to ensure that music counts." (Classic FM) His words were commendable. However, actions speak far louder than rhetoric. The removal of this bursary contradicts that promise and undermines the very concept of music “counting” in education.

As the founder of Music Kids Academy, I have witnessed first‑hand how music transforms young lives—especially in state schools. In a world rapidly changing with AI and technological automation, the one domain where our children can out‑shine machines is creativity. By removing financial support for training music teachers, we are eroding the future of that creative edge.  Of course, creating a generation of “human-bots” is rumoured to be what the Labour Government indeed want.

This decision also flies in the face of statistics showing severe recruitment shortfalls in music education. For the 2024‑25 academic year, the Department for Education’s census revealed just 40% of the target for music trainees was met. (Independent Society of Musicians) Continuing down this path guarantees we will have fewer specialist music teachers, fewer opportunities for children, and greater inequality in access to arts education.

It is not simply about music. It is about confidence, teamwork, communication, self‑expression. It is about enabling children to become active creators, not passive consumers. Cutting the bursary is a decision that will have long‑term negative consequences for children, communities, and our creative economy.

Therefore, I respectfully but firmly ask you to raise this issue in Parliament, hold the government accountable to its pledge that “music counts,” and demand an urgent review to reinstate the bursary for music and other arts subjects. The future of creative education—and the unique human creativity our children must develop—depends on it.

I look forward to your response and to seeing decisive action taken on this critical matter.

Yours sincerely,

Brendan O’Neill

 Founder, Music Kids Academy

01332 314055