Image from Pixabay, reproduced under Creative Commons CC0.
Taking a music qualification in school is linked with higher academic achievement, according to Cambridge Assessment research.
Tim Gill, the researcher who carried out the detailed analysis of national data for England for the 2017-18 academic year, said: “The results show that a comprehensive school student who typically takes nine GCSEs would expect to get a higher grade in one or two of their other subjects if they studied GCSE music, or a higher grade in at least three subjects if they achieved a graded music qualification at Grade 4 or above.”
The study has an advantage over much previous research in that it uses a large dataset (478,085 students), which included a range of factors known to affect attainment, such as gender, deprivation, ethnicity, special needs and school type. The main source of the data was the National Pupil Database, which is administered by England’s Department for Education.
Tim acknowledges limitations with the study, in particular that we need to be cautious about correlation and causation; it may be, for instance, that students who were more motivated to do well academically were also more likely to take part in extracurricular activities, such as learning a musical instrument. However, because GCSE Music is not an extracurricular activity, the positive link between taking the qualification and attainment is more robust.
SOURCES:
Cambridge Assessment (News story): https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/news/taking-music-qualification-linked-with-higher-achievement/
Cambridge Assessment (Report): https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/Images/603850-the-relationship-between-taking-a-formal-music-qualification-and-overall-attainment-at-key-stage-4.pdf
inews.co.uk: https://inews.co.uk/news/education/learning-musical-instrument-higher-results-gcses-793078?ito=twitter_share_article-top
DETAILS:
| BENEFIT: | ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT |
| TARGET GROUP: | YOUNG ADULTS |
| AGE: | 14-16 YEARS-OLD |
| MUSIC TYPE: | GENERAL |
| TYPE OF STUDY: | ACADEMIC DESK RESEARCH |
| NOs INVOLVED: | 478,085 |
| PERIOD OF STUDY: | UNKNOWN |
| DATE: | 2020 |
| PLACE: | UK |
Music Education Works 
This research is very positive and useful, particularly given the size of the dataset and the way in which it considers other factors. Unfortunately the tendency towards side-lining arts subjects, including music, has gathered pace and the obsession with STEM subjects above all else has led to blind spots in some schools and at the DfE. We need this research to be properly considered by the wider education community so that the rightful place of music at all key stages can be solidified and developed again.
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Totally agree Matt – you may find this an interesting read – https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/berj.3672 – all the best, Anita
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