Music development plan summary: what to publish on your school website
A summary of your music development plan for each academic year, using the DfE template.
Check this on my websiteWho it applies to
- Published on
- The school's own website
- School type
- Academies and maintained schools
- School stage
- All stages, from early years to sixth form
- Does not apply to
- No school types are excluded
When it's due
Every September
Publish a summary for each academic year.
What's needed
Publish your music development plan summary in the DfE template on the curriculum or music page on your website, and update it before the start of each academic year.
What it must contain
No parts listedThe official sources name no separate parts for this requirement. We check that it is published and easy to find.
What the official sources say
Set out in 3 official sources:
What maintained schools must publish online
Alongside the content of their music curriculum, all schools are expected to publish information about their music development plan. A template is available to support with this.
Expected: Inspectors expect to see it, though it isn't a legal requirement.§ Curriculum > What all schools should publish
What academies must publish online
Alongside the content of their music curriculum, all academies are expected to publish information about their music development plan. A template is available to support with this.
Expected: Inspectors expect to see it, though it isn't a legal requirement.§ Curriculum > What all academies should publish
School music development plan: summary template
We are asking schools to publish a summary of their music development plan on their website before the start of the 2024 to 2025 academic year. Schools should then update the summary before the start of each new academic year.
Expected: Inspectors expect to see it, though it isn't a legal requirement.§ Page body (paragraph 2)
Questions schools ask
Do schools have to publish a music development plan summary?
Academies and maintained schools are expected to: inspectors look for it, though it isn't a legal requirement.
When do we need to update our music development plan summary?
Every September. Publish a summary for each academic year.
Where does the requirement for the music development plan summary come from?
It is set out in What maintained schools must publish online, What academies must publish online and School music development plan: summary template.
Recent changes to the official guidance
Updates to the official sources that affect this requirement, newest first.
15 May 2024 · School music development plan: summary template
The DfE published the music development plan summary template.
15 May 2024 · What maintained schools must publish online
The DfE added publishing a music development plan to the curriculum section of its lists.
We last checked these sources on 21 September 2026.
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Official sources last checked 21 September 2026 · register version 1.0.4