The letter says there is compelling evidence that the study
of creative subjects is in decline in state schools and that entries to arts subjects have fallen to their lowest level in a decade.
Fine art graduates may move on to a Masters degree in
different creative subjects, such as illustration or art conservation, if their portfolio demonstrates an aptitude for this.
The exclusion of
creative subjects from the EBacc remit; subject silos; out - dated subject orthodoxies; teacher shortages and financial and academic pressures on schools weighed down by accountability measures are creating a perfect storm in which students will be those affected in the short term and society in the long term.
A balanced curriculum With children required to study EBacc subjects to GCSE level, it's easy to see that the creative pathways for our school children are disappearing, which will slowly result in funding
for creative subject areas being cut, leading to options for our children being vastly reduced.
With creative subjects seemingly taking a backseat to the government focus on Ebacc subjects, Ewan Grant, MD at The Notting Hill Academy of Music, discusses the importance of music education.
The EBacc was first introduced by Michael Gove in 2010 but was criticised for marginalising
creative subjects such as design, drama or music and failed to achieve an enthusiastic response from many British schools.
This announcement comes only a short time after Ofqual released figures that confirmed the devastating impact the EBacc is having on the uptake of
creative subjects at GCSE, with a decline of 38,900 students which amounts to a fall of 8 % from 2016 to 2017.
Organisations such as the Cultural Learning Alliance, the National Society for Educators in Art and Design and the Design and Technology Association have separately gathered evidence that clearly shows a fall in the number of candidates
taking creative subjects at GCSE and A Level.
Although
more creative subjects like music, drama and art will continue to be offered by schools, critics of the EBacc say pupils could be discouraged from taking them in favour of more academic subjects and have warned that arts subjects could be pushed out of schools and become the «preserve of the elite».
Speaking to Schools Week, Hardy, who is also the co-organiser of schools conference Northern Rocks, said she wanted to see
creative subjects given greater priority, rather than just English and maths.
Talking about the religious schools in particular, he said parents were sending their children because they were not satisfied with mainstream education «because music, for example, could be taught or
creative subjects which they disapprove of».
For instance, the emphasis on EBacc — an attainment measure which
marginalises creative subjects — is at odds with a recognition of the value of the creative economy.
With
creative subjects seemingly taking a backseat to the government focus on Ebacc subjects, Ewan Grant, MD at The Notting Hill Academy of Music, discusses the importance of music education in the national curriculum.
Getting down to business At the Notting Hill Academy of Music, we believe that this starts with understanding the business side of the music industry, which should be introduced early on at levels 1, 2 and 3 in music (the equivalent to GCSE and A — level), or introduced as an option for a
compulsory creative subject for the EBacc.
The campaign is designed to draw urgent attention to the crisis facing our school system, where the drive for league table success and OFSTED approval is pushing D&T and the
other creative subjects into an academic backwater.
This works well when your curriculum focuses
on creative subject matter, uses casual learning methods — think microlearning — or you want to encourage discussion.
«Today's announcement to make it compulsory will exacerbate the already evident problems that far too many children and young people are being denied the opportunity to study a broad and balanced range of subjects,
particularly creative subjects such as music, art and drama.
Currently, the EBacc comprises english, maths, science, a language and a humanities subject, either history or geography, and in its current form, fails to recognise the need for
creative subjects including art, drama and music, giving no acknowledgement to the significance of these to nurture the young more creatively - minded individuals through education in this country.
Their comments come amidst the government push for a more «academic» curriculum, with the introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), which requires pupils to study subjects such as English, Maths, Sciences and a language, but omits
many creative subjects.
Arts and culture bring huge benefits to young people: studying
creative subjects triples the chance children from low income backgrounds will get a degree, whilst taking up a musical instrument improves attainment across all core subjects.
Creative subjects play a key role in preparing young people to be employable and empowered citizens of the future.
EMPLOYABLE CITIZENS Creative approaches to teaching and learning, with wide access to
practical creative subjects such as design and technology and art and design is critical.
Each subject has its different requirements; lighting in an art departments is hugely important,
while creative subjects such as drama is best put apart from other departments such as Maths and English, due to the nature of the courses activities, storing equipment and outside activities which may not combine well with subjects which need quieter, more stable interiors.
In state schools, entries in
creative subjects hit a high of 53.7 per cent in 2013, but have declined sharply since then, reaching their lowest level of the decade in 2016.
My concern is that if the interventions show little or no increase in performance in tests in a narrow range of subjects
then creative subjects will be downgraded further.
Over 100 renowned artist have signed an open letter in The Guardian, deploring the new English baccalaureate (Ebacc) qualification for
sidelining creative subjects.
«However, until children and young people can take part in
creative subjects from the earliest ages these opportunities will be too little.»
Only a rounded curriculum that balances «traditional» academic study
with creative subjects will ensure that future generations are effectively prepared for the realities of the world of work that they will join.
Last week, the Department for Education responded to the consultation on the EBacc and confirmed that a
compulsory creative subject will not be added to the curriculum.
On top of this, teaching hours in music are also falling, and as we have heard recently, schools are feeling so squeezed by funding cuts that music and
other creative subjects are no longer a priority in their timetable.
The Bacc for the Future campaign, which has campaigned against the measure and its impact
on creative subjects, now says it has «no choice» but to step up its efforts and «urge the Department for Education to think again».
The National Theatre's Alice King - Farlow discusses how the theatre can enhance educational learning, open up opportunities, build upon classroom learning and improve a pupils involvement
in creative subjects.
There has been lots of concern that the EBacc is discouraging pupils from
taking creative subjects — something that schools minister Nick Gibb previously vehemently denied.
Delta Academies Trust, formerly the School Partnership Trust Academies, lost more than 100 staff last year and removed a number
of creative subjects from its curriculum to prioritise the more academic subjects found in the EBacc.
It thus exchanges its role of self -
creative subject for efficacious object.