MUSIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS & OFSTED
Music that stands up to scrutiny.
We help you meet the National Plan for Music Education, write your music development plan summary, and show governors and inspectors what your pupils achieve, with the evidence in one place.
FREE MUSIC HEALTH CHECK
How strong is your school's music? Find out in about 15 minutes.
Answer 45 short questions across 9 areas of the National Plan for Music Education. You'll see your score out of 900, your Musical Mates award, and a 3-step action plan straight away.
Copper · Bronze · Silver · Gold · Diamond · Platinum
Free and no obligation. Your answers come to Musical Mates Ltd, and we only contact you about your results if you say we can. See our privacy notice.
What the DfE expects of schools
The National Plan for Music Education (2022) sets out what good music provision looks like. It is non-statutory guidance, but governors and inspectors increasingly ask about it.
An hour a week
At least one hour of high-quality curriculum music each week in Key Stages 1 to 3.
A music development plan
A plan covering curriculum and co-curricular music, and how it is staffed and funded.
A published summary
Since 2024/25, schools are expected to publish a summary on their website using the DfE template, updated each academic year.
A music lead and partners
A named music lead, working with the local music hub and other music education organisations.
How Musical Mates Ltd helps you meet each one
The National Plan lists the features of high-quality music provision. Here's how our services cover them.
Timetabled curriculum music, at least one hour a week
National Curriculum music and PPA cover, taught by a specialist teacher and linked to your instrumental programme.
Whole-class instrumental teaching
A year of whole-class ensemble teaching on ukulele, violin, chalumeau clarinet, recorder, guitar or samba.
Access to lessons across a range of instruments, and voice
Small-group lessons on more than 20 instruments, plus singing, with instruments loaned free of charge.
A school choir or vocal ensemble
Choirs and singing clubs at lunchtime or after school.
A school ensemble, band or group
Rock bands, orchestras, ukulele, recorder and instrument clubs.
Space for rehearsals and individual practice
We plan rooms and timetables with you to keep disruption to a minimum.
A termly school performance
Pupil performances and Musical Mates Awards presentations, led by our teachers.
Live music at least once a year
The Akademiks rock concert, quartets, harp duos, ceilidhs and our free demonstration assembly.
Copy-ready wording for your plan summary
The DfE template has three parts plus your future plans. Copy this example, change the parts in [square brackets] to describe what really happens in your school, and we'll check it with you.
Part A: Curriculum music
Pupils in [Reception to Year 6] receive [one hour] of curriculum music each week, taught by a specialist teacher from Musical Mates Ltd. Our curriculum is informed by the Model Music Curriculum and includes singing, listening, composing and performing. In [Year 4], every pupil learns [the chalumeau clarinet] through whole-class ensemble teaching, and instruments are provided free of charge.
Part B: Co-curricular music
Pupils can take small-group lessons in [violin, guitar, drum kit, keyboard and brass] during the school day with Musical Mates Ltd teachers. Progress is recognised through the Musical Mates Awards, and pupils can prepare for graded exams. Pupils can join our [choir and rock band], which meet [weekly after school]. Where cost is a barrier, the school uses [Pupil Premium funding] so that disadvantaged pupils can take part.
Part C: Musical experiences
Every pupil enjoys at least one live concert by professional musicians each year, including [The Akademiks rock concert at Christmas]. Pupils perform to parents and the community [each term], including [our summer concert].
In the future: our next steps
Next year we plan to [extend small-group tuition to Year 3 and start a school orchestra]. Other music education organisations we work with: Musical Mates Ltd (curriculum and instrumental music, concerts and staff CPD).
EVIDENCE PACK
The evidence for governors and inspectors, ready when you need it
Every term, SLA schools receive:
A register of lessons and attendance
Musical Mates Awards achieved by each pupil
Written observations of every teacher, twice a year
Termly pupil progress reports on forms that fit your school's reporting
A log of performances and live music events, with dates
Pupil and staff feedback from our termly evaluations
Questions governors and inspectors may ask
And where your evidence is. Be ready to answer them with confidence.
Does every pupil in Key Stages 1 to 3 get at least an hour of music a week?
Your timetable, and our register of lessons and attendance.
How do pupils progress, and how do you know?
Musical Mates Awards achieved by each pupil, and termly pupil progress reports.
How good is the teaching?
Written observations of every teacher twice a year, with strengths and targets. Head teachers and music leads are welcome to observe jointly.
Can disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND take part?
Instruments loaned free of charge, Pupil Premium planning, and teaching adapted with your SENCo. See Inclusion & SEND.
Who is teaching our pupils, and are they safe to?
Enhanced DBS on our single central record, a photo ID badge, and a yearly letter of assurance for your school. See Quality & safeguarding.
What do pupils think of music?
Pupil evaluations of their lessons every term.
Do pupils perform and hear live music?
Our log of performances and live music events, with dates.
Inspection under the new framework
Since November 2025, Ofsted reports use report cards graded across areas such as curriculum and teaching, inclusion and personal development. Subject deep dives have ended, but the breadth of your curriculum and pupils' wider development still count.
If music is a strength of your school, make sure you say so. Ofsted's music report, Striking the right note, remains a useful guide to what inspectors see as strong music.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2028
Getting ready for the new music curriculum
The Curriculum and Assessment Review (November 2025) kept music compulsory from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 3 and recommended updating what pupils are taught. A revised national curriculum is expected in 2027, for teaching from September 2028.
We'll keep our schools up to date and offer staff training as the details are confirmed, including support with reading music notation.