THE CAMPAIGN SAVE ARTS EDUCATION
The big issue to fight for this year is arts education in schools. We asked Sir John Sorrell, founder of the Creative Industries Federation, why it’s such an important issue
Britain’s creative industries are big success stories, but their future depends on how we shape arts education for the next generation of talent. These industries deliver over £84 billion per year to our economy and provide almost three million jobs. In fact, employment in the UK’S creative economy is growing at twice the national average. There is global demand for British art, design, fashion, music, film, television, video games, architecture, music and publishing, all of which offer exciting and rewarding careers. The world respects the leadership position we have achieved over the last two decades, and other countries want to emulate our success.
The rapid growth of the creative industries has sharpened the demand for a skilled creative workforce. We need to build on our achievements, nurturing young people with the skills and the desire to join the sector. But there is a steep decline in the number of students taking up arts subjects. Why is this happening when there is so much opportunity?
A new factor in education is the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) – a set of five core subjects used to measure the performance of a school based on its results in English, maths, a science, a foreign language, and either history or geography. There is no creative subject in the Ebacc and, as a consequence, results in arts subjects do not contribute towards school league tables. Since it was first introduced as a performance measure there has been a 20.3 per cent fall in the number of young people taking GCSES in art, design and technology subjects, drama, media, film and TV studies, music and performing/expressive arts – that’s equivalent to 133,500 fewer GCSES.
The Ebacc, while sincere in its determination to give all children core knowledge, has had the effect of demoting creative subjects. The perception created among teachers, parents and young people is that artistic subjects are of lesser relevance as a route towards a successful career.
Nothing could be further from the truth. With fewer students encouraged towards creative employment, the creative industries’ future contribution to the economy could be damaged. Plus, thousands of young people each year are being denied the life-enriching discovery of their creativity.
Whilst this is not an intentional effect of the Ebacc, it is an accidental consequence, and we need to do something about it. The introduction of a creative subject into the Ebacc – such as art, design and technology, music or performing arts – is an essential first step towards lessening the skills gap and reinstating the importance of the arts. In addition, no school should be able to be deemed ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted unless it offers creative subjects to all of its students.
I believe in numeracy and literacy for all, but I also believe in creativity for all. If we are to achieve the best education for our young people, we need to invest in a rounded education policy that sees the importance of nurturing creativity.
I believe in numeracy and literacy for all, but I also believe in creativity for all
How to get involved Membership of the Creative Industries Federation, of which Sir John Sorrell is a founder, helps to fund the arts sector’s public voice. Annual membership from £30 (creativeindustriesfederation.com). Also, head to the BACC For The Future website for details on how to write to your MP about the issue, and to sign its online petition (baccforthefuture.com).