Ed Sheeran helps enact changes to England's music curriculum
Ed Sheeran has successfully helped influence the UK Government to introduce the first major update to the music curriculum in England in more than ten years.
Following his open letter to the Prime Minister in March this year, the government has announced new measures in their curriculum review, with one of those reflecting some of the asks raised in Sheeran’s letter: the removal of the EBacc measure, to encourage students to study a greater breadth of GCSE subjects including music and the arts, and the diversifying of genres in the music curriculum.
This change marks a significant milestone for the Ed Sheeran Foundation’s mission to ensure that music remains an integral part of every child’s education, regardless of background, location, or resource.
Since launching the Ed Sheeran Foundation at the start of 2025, Sheeran has campaigned for accessible, meaningful education for all young people. His open letter to the Prime Minister – supported by 600+ leading figures across the music and education industries including Harry Styles, Annie Lennox, Central Cee, Sleaford Mods, and Stormzy – called attention to the critical state of music education and urged the government to protect and expand its reach, in and out of schools. Ed’s letter also spoke to the importance of investing and protecting the pipeline of future musical talent in the UK music industry – a sector that brings in £7.6 billion to the UK economy (UK Music, 2024).
For more information, visit edsheeranfoundation.com.
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