By the time policy-makers recognise the importance of the arts, it may be too late to save them, says Dr Bernard Trafford

What do you prefer: breadth or specialisation? In my view, that’s not a helpful question. Indeed, rather than giving an “either, or” answer, I would always want “both, and...”.

For example, I regret the fact that, when we discuss whether schools should ditch A levels and follow the International Baccalaureate, in most cases it has (for reasons of resourcing) to be a question of either one or the other. This is unfortunate, because I would like students at the age of 16 to have the choice between that broad-based course embracing several subjects at different levels and the opportunity to drop most and specialise in areas of specific interest to them.

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