An open letter published in The Times on 14 March calls on the British government to keep its promises on arts education and put the arts at the heart of the curriculum.
The letter emphasises the ‘untold damage to children and their life chances’ caused by the EBacc and Progress 8 policies. Since the introduction in 2010 of the EBacc, which contains no arts subjects, there has been a 42% drop in arts subjects generally (36% in music) taken at GCSE in state schools, while music A Level entries have fallen by 45%; similarly, assessment criteria for Progress 8, introduced in 2016, encourage schools to focus on EBacc subjects.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy promised at the Labour party conference in September 2024 that the government would hold ‘a review of the curriculum to put arts, sports and music back at the heart of our schools.’ Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson launched the Curriculum and Assessment Review [CAR] the same month. The CAR panel’s Interim Report will be published this spring, with its final report due in autumn 2025.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
'Sir
'Arts education in state schools is approaching a turning point as we await the Interim Report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review [CAR].
'Since 2010 creative subjects have been disappearing from state schools, making access to art, dance, design, drama and music education the preserve of the wealthy.
'The previous government’s EBacc and Progress 8 policies have done untold damage to our children and their life chances. Creative subjects develop life skills, boost confidence and support mental wellbeing. They also underpin the talent pipeline for our creative industries which contribute £126 billion to the economy.
'While the government stresses the importance of the arts, we have yet to see action. The Interim Report must signal clear and imminent action so that in the words of Sir Keir Starmer, ‘Every young person... has access to music, art, design and drama… That is our mission. Because we know that for our creative industries to flourish, every child needs to be given a chance.’
Yours sincerely'
The letter, coordinated by the Independent Society of Musicians, was signed by more than 720 leaders in the arts including ISM CEO Deborah Annetts, Daniel Kebede (General Secretary, National Education Union), Tom Kiehl (CEO, UK Music), The Rt Hon. the Lord Kinnock (former Labour party leader), singers Dame Felicity Lott and Nicky Spence, cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, Caroline Norbury OBE (CEO, Creative UK), Professor Jonathan Vaughan (Principal, Guildhall School of Music & Drama), and Paul Whiteman (General Secretary, National Association of Head Teachers).
ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts said, 'We are delighted that so many leaders from across the arts and education sectors have made a clear statement by signing this letter. The evidence is overwhelming that creative subjects are disappearing from our schools because of the EBacc and Progress 8. The Curriculum and Assessment Review panel must not miss the opportunity to reform these damaging accountability measures and ensure every child has access to a high-quality music and arts education in school.'
The National Education Union’s General Secretary, Daniel Kebede, said, ‘The strength of feeling around the EBacc cannot be underestimated. Our members have seen first-hand the hierarchy of subjects that has been created and the narrowing of the curriculum that has followed. The government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review is a generational opportunity to make the curriculum work for all of our young people. This means that schools must have the flexibility to meet the needs of their communities, and all children should have a full range of choices over what to study.’
