Schools are being urged to swap classical music for more modern music, such as grime and hip-hop, to boost the results of pupils studying music.
After a four-year research project, the research found schools which taught more inclusive music-making and whose lessons were centred around the students’ music tastes were able to improve the attendance of disengaged students.
The project also found that the predicted attainment of students in English and Maths also increased.
Speaking on the research, Matt Griffiths – CEO of national charity Youth Music – said: “We’ve seen the benefits of students exchanging Mozart for Stormzy as part of a re-imagined music curriculum.
“Our research has cemented our view that music in schools has the power to help young people with some of the big issues facing them today – mental health, isolation and social inequality. But only if it is reimagined to become more relevant and inclusive of all young people.”
Youth Charity is now calling on the Department of Education to change the music curriculum in the UK so that it includes a more diverse range of musical interests.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education has said: “We want all pupils to have the opportunity to study music at school – that’s why it is compulsory in the national curriculum from the age of five up to 14.
“We are currently working with music groups and practitioners to refresh the national plan for music education and develop a high-quality model music curriculum.”