Too much of the music provision in schools is inadequate

The inspectorate found that while music provision was good or outstanding in half of schools inspected, too much provision was inadequate.

It said music made a difference to pupils' development both personally and musically, but most schools did not capitalise on this. "There was a tendency for schools simply to offer opportunities rather than to use them actively to engage or re-engage pupils," said the report.

Ofsted called for government funding to be better targeted to outcomes "that demonstrate the longer-term impact on pupils". The government invested £332m in music education in November last year.

Chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: "Music can have a big impact on pupils' personal development, and students enjoy taking part.

"However, more thought needs to be given to how very welcome national initiatives link to the music curriculum as a whole, how to ensure longer-term impact and how to ensure that initiatives reach those most in need of help."

Charity Youth Music, set up in 1999 to address a deficit in music provision for children and young people, said it was working with schools to link them to local Youth Music Action Zones and working with primary school teachers to give them the skills to lead singing through its Sing Up programme.

Chris Keates, general secretary of teachers' union NASUWT, blamed the previous Conservative government's "vandalism" of local authority music services for the decline in music provision.

"The present government's recognition of the importance of music and the commitment and investment given to rebuilding the subject through the publication of the Music Manifesto has been very welcome.

"However it will take years for consistent investment and radical change to the current accountability regime before the damage is repaired."