Mixed messages from Labour on music education | Letters

It’s nice to see that the government wants more music in schools (Ed Sheeran takes partial credit for move to overhaul music teaching in England, 5 November), given the massive benefits to students’ souls – the pure joy and impact of collaboration, the expressive outlet, the skills learned, and the enjoyment for life. Music education also has huge benefits for communities and the economy – the UK has always excelled in the music industry. And yet the government is to withdraw the provision of a bursary payment for those training to be music teachers from the 2026-27 academic year. This reverses an earlier decision to offer a £10,000 bursary from 2023-24 onwards. Is music a priority or not?Katharine ChadwickLuddenden, West Yorkshire • Readers may be forgiven for thinking that the sciences (and maths) are not creative subjects (Letters, 9 November). As a chemistry graduate turned physics teacher, I regard the periodic table, for example, as one of the great creative achievements of humans; vast leaps of imagination as well as experimental work were required to produce it. More art and music in the curriculum, please, but all subjects should be regarded as creative and taught as such.Tom YeoEnfield, London • Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.