Today the #SaveOurSubjects campaign handed in a letter to the Department for Education (DfE) and Gillian Keegan, the education secretary. The campaign calls on the government to review and reform school accountability measures including Progress 8.
The movement was launched in February by independent education charity Edge Foundation and non-union representative body for musicians the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM).
The open letter, which has gained 1,100 signatures from those who work in the creative industries, parents, teachers and more, has asked the DfE for three things:
- To review the impact of accountability measures (such as the EBacc and Progress 8) on arts and technology subjects
- To reform the Progress 8 accountability measure, giving pupils more freedom of choice at GCSE
- To deliver the Arts Premium promised in the Conservatives’ 2019 election manifesto.
The movement targets the dramatic fall in those taking arts and technology GCSE and A Levels, and warns that access to arts and technology subjects are being limited to students who can afford to study them privately and wants to address this inequity.
GCSE Music entries saw a fall of 27 per cent since 2010, and in the same period there has been a 23 per cent drop in the number of arts teachers.
Commenting on the campaign, ISM chief executive Deborah Annetts said, ‘The rate at which arts subjects are disappearing from our schools is both staggering and frightening. The support for our letter to Gillian Keegan clearly demonstrates the level of concern.’
Listen to Sorah Gluck, our brilliant policy advisor, live from outside @educationgovuk this afternoon.
— The Edge Foundation (@ukEdge) July 19, 2023
Learn more and join the movement 👇https://t.co/TNs4zqR3hb#SaveOurSubjects @ISM_music @GillianKeegan @onedanceuk @ST3AMCo pic.twitter.com/tAXU9de9r4
Edge chief executive, Alice Barnard said, ‘Edge has long been calling for a broader and more balanced curriculum that develops the skills young people need to become well-rounded individuals and productive members of society. But this is not just an economic imperative. The arts and creative subjects have the potential to positively impact mental health and wellbeing, as well as providing young people with sense of purpose.’
