Ed Sheeran delivers a live concert at an old school, following his appeal for £250 million for music education, addressed to UK's Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer.
In early 2025, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran launched a campaign to secure a significant investment in music education in the UK. The goal was to address the decline in music teaching and provision across state schools, which educate 93% of UK children.
The campaign, communicated through an open letter to the UK government in March 2025, was signed by over 500 figures from the music industry. The letter proposed five key areas for improvement in music education in the UK, including funding music in schools like sport, training music teachers, launching a fund for grassroots music collaboration, launching music apprenticeships, and diversifying the curriculum.
The campaign has gained widespread support from the music industry, with artists, educators, and cultural organisations urging the government to invest in music education and take action to protect its future.
One of the most notable supporters of the campaign is Sir Elton John, who co-signed the open letter along with artists such as Annie Lennox, Coldplay, Harry Styles, Stormzy, and YolanDa Brown.
Sheeran has been campaigning for this investment for some time, crediting the mentorship of long-serving Director of Music Richard Hanley as pivotal in encouraging him to pursue his dream of a career in music. Hanley is retiring after 36 years at the school this summer.
The event marked the 45th anniversary of the school's music legacy, with Sheeran making a surprise appearance at a gala concert celebrating the school in Suffolk. The evening of music from students past and present served as a poignant reminder of the lasting impact of dedicated music educators.
The campaign for government investment in music education is ongoing, emphasizing the importance of music in the UK economy, wellbeing, mental health, communities, and young people's dreams.
The letter highlights the decline in music provision in state schools and the impact of this decline on the UK economy. It also emphasizes the urgent need because 2024 marked the first year in over 20 years without a UK global Top 10 single or album, signaling a risk to the future talent pipeline.
Related initiatives include the establishment of the Ed Sheeran Foundation in January 2025, specifically focused on supporting music education in state schools and grassroots organizations across the UK. Sheeran also creates and sells artwork, with proceeds going into his foundation to fund music education.
The campaign addresses challenges such as the EBacc and Progress 8 educational measures, which have deprioritized music education in schools, and government funding cuts, including the cessation of financial support to national youth music organizations.
Talent in music is widespread across the UK, but not all young people have equal opportunities in music education. The decline in music provision in state schools and the need for government investment in music education continue to be pressing issues.
For more information about the open letter and the campaign, readers can find it in its entirety here.
The campaign aimed at securing government investment in music education includes proposals for improving funding, training music teachers, and launching music apprenticeships. It is supported by a multitude of figures from the music industry, with Sir Elton John among the notable supporters.
The decline in music education in state schools, as highlighted in the campaign, has a significant impact on the UK economy, as evidenced by the lack of UK global Top 10 singles or albums in 2024.
Related initiatives, such as the Ed Sheeran Foundation and Sheeran's own art sales, focus on supporting music education in state schools and grassroots organizations across the UK. Access to music education, however, remains unequal for many young people, making it a pressing issue.
Readers can find the open letter and more information about the campaign here.
