Leading lights call on the government to deliver on its pledge to restore the value of arts in schools
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Leading arts figures lead the call for the government to fulfil its
promise to restore the value of the arts in schools Only 6% of
school leaders have confidence in the government to deliver on its
pledge Over 10,000 signatures on open letter to Lucy Powell and
Lisa Nandy One year on from the Curriculum and Assessment Review
(CAR), leading arts figures will today (Tuesday 10 November) call
on the new Education Secretary to fulfil the government's promise
to restore...Request free trial
One year on from the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR), leading arts figures will today (Tuesday 10 November) call on the new Education Secretary to fulfil the government's promise to restore the value of arts subjects in schools, as new research reveals that only 6% of school leaders have confidence in the government to deliver on its pledge. Arlene Phillips, Lindsay Duncan, Harriet Walter and Samuel West are among 10,000 members of the arts community and educators who have signed an open letter to Lucy Powell MP and Lisa Nandy MP. It will be hand-delivered to the Department for Education by actor Jamie Kenna (currently starring in ITV's Winter), Magic Radio presenter and composer Jack Pepper, and artists Lorna May Wadsworth and Bob and Roberta Smith. The letter organised by the Arts and Minds campaign, a coalition of over 60 organisations including the National Education Union, Royal Shakespeare Company, Campaign for the Arts and the Musicians' Union urges Ministers to remember the vital role arts subjects play in developing pupils' academic learning, employability skills and school engagement. Despite a number of government announcements since the CAR including the scrapping of the EBacc, the Every Child Can programme and a new enrichment framework, the vast majority of school leaders still cannot increase the time spent on the arts in the curriculum. Only 6% intend to increase the number of timetabled hours (a drop from 7% in 2025). Despite government plans to hold schools to a set of enrichment benchmarks', only 3% of school leaders intend to increase the number of extra-curricular hours - a drop of 40% when compared to 2025 (5% in 2025). Almost two-thirds (62%) intend to keep their arts offering the same - an increase from 56% in 2025. Lucy Powell has stated that she wants schools to be, Less an exam factory, more a talent factory. One in four (40%) school leaders, including 50% of primary leaders, state that reducing the burden of statutory assessments would allow more time for the arts. Too much time spent on other curriculum priorities is an inhibiting factor for 60% of primary headteachers and 39% of secondary leaders. Meanwhile, lack of school funding continues to affect creative subjects: almost one in five (18%) of school leaders say they lack funding for arts teachers and resources. Many school leaders believe that increased ring-fenced funding for arts subjects (26% agree) and increased per pupil funding (28% agree) would deliver more hours for students to study the arts. Ed Harlow, president of the National Education Union and Arts and Minds campaign spokesperson comments, We support the government's ambition to restore the value of arts subjects in schools. However, to fully deliver on its promises, the government must tackle the wholesale causes of the current status of arts in schools and work with the arts education sector to deliver a meaningful expansion of provision. The arts should not be an add-on or an optional extra; they should be a fundamental part of every child's school experience. Only then will every young person have the chance to study the same curriculum as those in the most affluent areas can enjoy, and reach their full potential wherever their talents lie. Actor Jamie Kenna who recently appeared in the ITV drama Winter, comments, The arts helped me find my world, my people and myself. I followed my dream and we have to find a way to make that possible for every child. Studying the arts doesn't necessarily mean a career in the arts but these subjects give them confidence, character and, often, a reason to be in school. The opportunity to follow your passions should not be determined by how much money your parents have - it should be every child's right." Renowned portrait artist Lorna May Wadsworth comments, "All children benefit from the opportunity to express themselves creatively and every child should have the opportunity to enjoy the arts in schools. Schools must have the support they need to make this happen. The thought of children not having proper access to the arts fills me with dread about what it means for those young people and what it means for society." Ends The Arts and Minds Campaign is a coalition of national organisations from across the arts and education sectors. LETTER TO RT HON LUCY POWELL MP AND RT HON LISA NANDY MP Dear Lucy Powell MP, Secretary of State for Education and Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Today, too many children are missing out on the chance to study a broad range of arts subjects and discover where their talents truly lie. Decades of underfunded, exam-driven education have devalued the arts and pushed skilled teachers out of classrooms. We know that this Government recognises the importance of a broad and balanced curriculum, and we welcome commitments to restore the value of creative subjects in schools. As you continue to develop your ambition towards making schools less an exam factory and more a talent factory, we urge you to remember the vital role arts subjects play in developing pupils' academic learning, employability skills and school engagement. Deep-rooted challenges mean schools are struggling to make space for arts in the curriculum. Only 7% of school leaders feel able to increase the amount of classroom time spent on arts subjects (Teacher Tapp, December 2025).
We are calling on you to build on the progress made so far and work with us to realise our shared ambition of putting creativity at the heart of every school's curriculum. Create space in the curriculum A curriculum dominated by English, maths and science leaves too little room for creative subjects. New programmes of study must reduce content across subjects and enable schools to offer a full range of arts options. End the exam factory culture Government exams dominate school life from primary. Reducing this burden is the singular most popular policy change among school leaders. It is time to scrap SATs, reduce high-stakes testing at every stage and replace it with broader, more flexible qualifications that allow young people to thrive. Restore funding Years of cuts have created a crisis in arts provision. School budgets must rise every year of this parliament, and any new reforms must be fully resourced, based on a rigorous assessment of need. Recruit teachers Teacher recruitment across creative subjects is in crisis, with a 27% drop in specialist teachers in secondary schools since 2010. Government must target recruitment and retention in arts subjects, reinstating bursaries for arts trainees and restoring at least pre-2010 numbers of recruits. We are a broad coalition of creative organisations, school leaders, teachers, researchers, parents and students united in a single aim: to remove the barriers that stop young people accessing and studying the arts. You have the power to turn words into deeds and give the next generation the creative education they deserve. We urge you to act now. Yours sincerely 67 members of the Arts and Minds Campaign Coalition including the National Education Union, Royal Shakespeare Company, Equity, Musicians' Union, Campaign for the Arts, Cultural Learning Alliance, NSEAD, Independent Society of Musicians and University and College Union Jamie Kenna, actor Harriet Walter, actor Juliet Stevenson, actor Samuel West, actor Bethany Antonio, actor Dame Arlene Phillips, choreographer Lee Hall, writer and lyricist Farooq Chaudhry OBE, dance producer and director Tim Crouch, actor, writer and performer Bob and Roberta Smith OBE RA, artist Lorna May Wadsworth, artist Steve Bell, cartoonist Julian Wild, sculptor Sarah Graham, artist Joey Holder, digital artist Rosemary Clunie, artist, illustrator and author Michael Rosen, writer, former children's laureate Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, writer Jack Pepper, composer and radio presenter Dunstan Bruce, musician Orphy Robinson MBE, musician Mark Tieku, songwriter and producer Plus over 10,000 members of the arts community and arts educators. |