U.K. Government Revamps Music Education, Sheeran Celebrates

As of November 5, 2025, the U.K. government has announced significant changes to the country's National Curriculum, addressing concerns raised by singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and his charitable organization, the Ed Sheeran Foundation. The revisions aim to "revitalize arts subjects" and scrap the controversial English baccalaureate program, which had long faced criticism for excluding the arts and vocational subjects.

Sheeran, who credits his own music education for his success, welcomed the changes. In an Instagram post, he expressed that the new curriculum "gives young people hope and the opportunity to study music," addressing "key points" from the open letter he and other music luminaries sent to the government this past summer. The letter had called for a £250 million investment to "repair decades of dismantling music" education.