The Heads for the Arts group has released The Case for the Arts, a 14-page report examining the importance of arts subject to the education and development of young people. It contains case studies of schools that have a focus on arts education in the curriculum.
The document is the latest attempt by educationalists to change government thinking on the EBC qualification. The list of core subjects within the qualification does not include any arts provision, leading to fears that areas such as music, drama and art will be squeezed off timetables.
In a letter to MPs, the headteachers express concerns that the EBC will “impact very negatively on our young people, our schools and our economy”.
It goes on: “The Department for Education’s position that there will be enough time left over in a school’s timetable for the arts (notionally 20 per cent) after the EBC subjects are catered for is unrealistic. There is simply too much to fit in even for the most creative of school leadership teams and many children and young people will not be able to study an arts subject.
“Heads for the Arts is therefore arguing for a degree of flexibility within the EBC to allow young people to study for an arts subject and would ask that you take every opportunity to support this view.”