A petition to include more creative subjects in the EBacc will be discussed in parliament after gaining over 100,000 signatures.
The petition states: “The English Baccalaureate, or Ebacc, is a standard which maintains that English, maths, science, a language and a humanity [subject] define a good education. The exclusion of art, music, drama and other expressive subjects is limiting, short sighted and cruel. Creativity must be at the heart of our schools.” Many believe the EBacc’s focus on more traditionally academic subjects may push creative qualifications to the side, which will result in pupils being discouraged from taking them. Malcolm Trobe, Interim General Secretary at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) argues this could lead to arts becoming a “preserve of the elite”.
Richard Wilson, who started the petition, believes there is a “marginalisation and downgrading of the arts and other creative subjects in state education”. He continued: “The EBacc will have a dreadful impact on the arts in our schools, but the 100,000 signatures are a testament to how much arts and culture are loved and valued in the UK. We look forward to the debate that we have managed to secure in parliament.”
Currently, the subject is waiting for a debate date. The government responded to the petition, stating: “The government is committed to improving the life chances of young people and believes all young people should study the core academic subjects that give them the skills to succeed. The EBacc subjects provide a rigorous academic education and help to prepare young people for adult life. The EBacc forms only part of the school curriculum and all schools must deliver a curriculum that is balanced and broadly based.” Its response also said it doesn’t believe “it is right that every student should have to study an arts subject, but all pupils in maintained schools have a statutory entitlement to be able to study an arts subject if they wish.”
This response, however, has done little to quell fears that artistic subjects are being pushed aside for the EBacc’s core academic subjects. Mr Trobe expressed concern that the EBacc’s demanding curriculum would allow pupils little time for creative study.
At NCFE, we believe that young people should be allowed the opportunity to unleash their creativity, and artistic subjects are vital to this. They allow learners to explore different ways of working and can lead to successful careers. As we’ve said many times before, not everyone learns in the same way and pupils who are more suited to a creative or vocational style of learning should be able to study non-academic subjects. We hope that the EBacc doesn’t come at the expense of creativity, but also that learners still have the freedom to follow the routes best suited to them.
What are your thoughts? Do you think the EBacc will affect your ability to deliver creative subjects?
