Section 4(2) of the Education Reform Act 1988 places a duty on the Secretary of State to establish the National Curriculum by specifying by order appropriate attainment targets, programmes of study and assessment arrangements for each of the foundation subjects.

Section 4(4) allows for such an order, instead of containing the provisions to be made, to refer to provisions in a document published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.

This Order accordingly refers to the document entitled “Music in the National Curriculum (England)” and provides for the attainment targets and programmes of study in relation to music set out in it to have effect for the first, second and third key stages of a pupil’s compulsory schooling. The Order applies in relation to maintained schools in England only.

The Order provides that any examples printed in italics in the Document are for illustrative purposes only, and do not form part of the Order.