Broadly speaking, schools approach music in three different ways - (rarely) they teach it only to the obviously talented; they treat it as a recreational activity open to all comers; or they provide a mixture of both. A handful of schools have virtually no music; others have a massive commitment that involves some two-thirds of the pupils learning an instrument; and there are specialist music schools and choir schools. There are many scholarships and bursaries for music scattered throughout a very great range of schools.

Schools of all sorts have pupils in county orchestras, possibly in the National Youth Orchestra or the National Youth Music Theatre group. They compete in local festivals and in national competitions (eg Young Musician of the Year). And it is not just classical music. Lively schools often have pupils in local brass bands and success in, for instance, jazz or rock competitions. There is also a huge difference in the range of musical groups: some schools have just an orchestra, choir and recorder group; others have dozens of groups including eg different orchestras, choirs, chamber groups, jazz groups, madrigals, flute choir, barber shop and R&B.

Specialist music schools cater specifically for the needs of musically gifted children and the vast majority of them go on to conservatoires. Children at music schools tend to spend most of their free time in musical activities and may have a limit (often 2) on the number of A-levels they can take (although they often do extremely well in those they do take and may get good university places). An alternative for talented musicians is to combine a mainstream school with the junior department of one of the main conservatoires. Pupils are selected by audition and classes are usually on a Saturday morning.