Starmer to unleash a ‘generation of creativity’ to boost opportunity, as awards season shows state school kids risk being shut out of creative subjects

Keir Starmer today (Monday) pledges to make the arts accessible to every child in Britain, helping to unleash a “generation of creativity” and reverse a Conservative education policy that has hammered the uptake of arts subjects in state schools.  

Drawing on his own working-class background, Starmer says the opportunity to learn a musical instrument gave him “confidence to kick on, and the drive to achieve.”

Today he will set out how Labour will change the curriculum so that every child can develop their creativity.  Starmer will say that it is his passionate belief that creative subjects are “a path that every child deserves to have at their feet.”

The Labour leader is on a personal mission to smash the ‘class ceiling’, warning today that Britain’s world-leading arts organisations do not include enough people from working class backgrounds and need to do more to turn this around.

On his latest missions tour, focused on opportunity, Starmer will visit a school in the East of England today with Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. The pair will meet pupils and teachers to discuss how Labour will improve access to creative subjects as part of a broader curriculum with the highest standards.

It comes as analysis reveals huge reserves of potential British talent going untapped, with state-educated artists heavily under-represented in awards season.

Only 60 percent of the British actors, directors and musicians nominated for major awards over the past decade were state educated, despite 94 percent of pupils attending state school.  The recent BAFTA Film ceremony suggests this trend is getting worse, with just three out of the ten British stars nominated for acting or directing awards attending a state-funded school.

Evidence shows that giving children access to creative subjects can have a positive impact on wider attainment, as well as on social and emotional wellbeing.

Labour’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost creativity includes commitments to: 

• Broaden the curriculum - A Curriculum Assessment Review to broaden opportunities for state-school pupils and ensure that children don’t miss out on subjects such as music, art, design, sport and drama.

• Change school accountability mechanisms - to encourage creative subjects as a first step to a broader curriculum.

• Recruit 6,500 new teachers – to boost school capacity, funded via ending tax breaks for private schools. 

• Embed oracy and life skills in education – raising the importance of speaking skills to give children confidence, improve academic attainment and build skills for later life.

• Breakfast clubs in every primary school – improving children’s learning and development, boosting performance in maths and reading, alongside improving behaviour and attendance.

Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party said: 

“It is short-sighted and frankly immoral, to allow arts and culture to become the domain of a few privileged pupils. Britain is a world leader in music and film, but we are holding back masses of potential because the Conservatives’ creativity crisis is shutting kids out.

“Growing up in a working-class household, the opportunity to learn an instrument gave me benefits far beyond the music. It gave me the confidence to kick on, and the drive to achieve.

“My mission is to ensure all children are supported to be creative and reap the practical, emotional and social benefits that come with it. That’s irrespective of your school, your family income or where you live.

“Labour will unleash a generation of creativity across Britain. We’ll improve access to creative subjects and speaking skills. We’ll give our young people the confidence, the belief that their ideas matter, and the voice to speak up.

“This a path that every child deserves to have at their feet.”

Leading figures have backed Labour’s plans to improve access to creative subjects, including: 

Sir Steve McQueen CBE, filmmaker and artist, Academy Award and BAFTA winner, said:

“If we are talking about opportunity for young people, then the ability to express themselves imaginatively and creatively, and in their own way, is one of the greatest opportunities you could possibly give them. 

“Culture and the arts are something this country is the best at, and they need to be nurtured and protected.”

Bobby Seagull, maths teacher and TV personality, said: 

“There’s sometimes a temptation to separate creative thinking from maths, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. 

“Whether it’s problem-solving and deciphering complex patterns in music, improving speech and presentation skills in drama, or thinking outside the box in art, there are countless ways that creative subjects can make you a better mathematician. And it’s not just maths. Many other subjects benefit from these skills too. 

“Labour’s pledge to broaden the curriculum, boost teaching staff and make the arts available to everyone is really exciting. It will greatly benefit the mathematicians of tomorrow.”

Ends 

Notes to editors:

• The Conservatives have been accused of presiding over a 'creativity crisis' in state-schools with a decline in those pursuing creative subjects. Between 2010 and 2022/23, GCSE enrolment in arts subjects has fallen by 47%.  

o   Huge decline in arts subjects worsens at GCSE and A-level - Campaign for the Arts

• Keir Starmer spoke about his passion for classical music and the benefits he felt from learning musical instruments as a child, to Classic FM (July 2023): https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/sir-keir-starmer-lost-sight-value-music-schools/

• Keir Starmer selected his Desert Island Discs in 2020, discussing his love of northern soul and Orange Juice: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/nov/15/a-real-party-island-keir-starmers-desert-discs-have-stormzy-and-soul

• Labour’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity is set out in more detail here: Mission-breaking-down-barriers.pdf (labour.org.uk)

• The objectives of Labour’s mission are:

1.      Make security the foundation of opportunity - Britain’s success relies on everyone having the chance to get on, but currently too many people are held back by the lack of a secure job, secure home, a safe community and public services that aren’t there when you need them. Labour’s missions will tackle these barriers, giving everyone security. 

2.      Reform childcare and early years support so children have the best start in life- Children’s earliest years are crucial to their development and their life chances. By the time they start school, children eligible for free school meals are already five months behind their peers.⁶ By ensuring families have the early support they need, we can provide every child a firm foundation that sets them up for life.

3.    Deliver a broader education and the highest standards in schools - Too many children are being let down, leaving school without essential reading, writing or maths skills. Too many are denied the opportunity to participate in arts, digital and sports subjects that develop life skills, like communication, teamwork, and digital skills, which are essential for their futures. Labour will raise school standards for all our children. We’ll ensure every child has the core knowledge and skills they need as part of a broad curriculum, delivered by recruiting and training thousands more expert teachers.

4.    Provide pathways to good prospects for all - Right now, too many young people leave education without the qualifications they need and without high quality pathways onto apprenticeships, higher level education, or into good secure jobs. By pushing decisions on skills spending out of Westminster we’ll ensure local communities are able to join up training and job opportunities, with training routes coordinated between colleges and universities.

5.    Spread opportunity beyond education - Conservative governments have been content to lock people out of too many spheres by cultural and social capital, allowing a class ceiling to remain intact for internships, prestigious jobs and in some cases, to getting on. Housing and job insecurity are barriers for too many people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Labour will turn this tide, delivering the opportunities everyone deserves.

• Over 130 British actors, directors and musicians have been nominated for main solo gongs at the Academy Awards, BAFTA Film Awards and Mercury music awards over the last 10 years. Only 60 percent of those nominations were state educated, despite 94 percent of pupils attending state school. Of the 10 British stars who received a nod in the main acting or directing awards at this year's BAFTA Film ceremony, just 3 attended a state-funded school.

•       Analysis included all British nominees across the following categories. Where information on schooling wasn't publicly available, a nominee was removed and the overall proportion adjusted accordingly.
•       BAFTA Film Awards

o   BAFTA Fellowship Award 2014-2024

o   Best Director 2014-2024

o   Best Actress in a Leading Role 2014-2024

o   Best Actor in a Leading Role 2014-2024

o   Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2014-2024

o   Best Actor in a Supporting Role 2014-2024

o   Rising Star Award 2014-2024

•       Mercury Awards

o   Best Album (only including solo nominees) 2014 - 2023. 

•       Academy Awards 

o   Best Actor 2014 - 2024

o   Best Supporting Actor 2014 -2024

o   Best Director 2014 - 2024

o   Best Actress 2014 - 2024

o   Best Supporting Actress 2014 - 2024

o   Best Director 2014 - 2024

o   Best Supporting Actor 2014 - 2024

• Evidence shows that giving children access to creative subjects can have a positive impact on wider attainment, as well as social and emotional wellbeing.

o   Education Endowment Foundation - Arts Participatio