The House of Lords Communications Committee will hold a one-off
evidence session on Tuesday 3 July. The Committee will consider the
balance between the arts and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering
and Maths) subjects in schools.
In recent years, the Government has invested heavily in STEM
subjects in schools, but some have expressed concern that there has
been a decline in the number of pupils taking creative and arts
subjects and a decline in the amount of time allocated to teaching
them. In this session the Committee will explore whether the
perception that the Government’s policies have sidelined arts
subjects is supported by evidence. The Committee will also consider
how education policy in England should be directed to provide the
future economy with a workforce that has the necessary skills and
knowledge.
The session will begin at 3.30pm in
Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords. The Committee will hear
from:
-
Yvonne Baker, Chief Executive,
National STEM Learning Network
-
Anita Bath, Headmistress of Sacred
Heart Catholic High School, Newcastle upon Tyne
-
James Zuccollo, Director for
School Workforce, Education Policy Institute.
The second session will begin at 4:30pm and the
Committee will question:
-
Dr Hilary Leevers, Head of
Education and Learning, Wellcome Trust
-
Professor Katharine Normington,
Royal Holloway University of London
-
Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive,
Incorporated Society of Musicians.
Topics that will be covered in both sessions
include:
-
Whether there is evidence that arts subjects are
being sidelined in the national curriculum and in
schools.
-
The effect of Government policies, such as the
English Baccalaureate, on the take-up of arts
subjects.
-
The benefits of arts education for individuals and
for society.
-
The consequences of early specialisation in the
English school system to children and young people’s
development and choice of career.
