Commenting on the outcome of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, Claire Walker, Co-CEO of the Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre, which together represent the UK’s leading theatres and producers, said:
“The theatre sector has been united in calling for a return to an arts-rich education and greater creative enrichment opportunities. This review, and the Government’s response, represent a promising start towards Labour’s pledge to ensure that the arts will ‘no longer be the preserve of a privileged few’. Every child deserves the opportunity to develop creativity, confidence, and collaboration skills – all of which underpin the future success of our creative industries and wider economy.
“We welcome the findings of Professor Francis’ review and the Government’s commitment to acting on her recommendations. In particular, we strongly welcome the recommendation to scrap the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) – a policy that for too long constrained student choice and restricted children’s access to a high-quality arts education. The inclusion of a new core enrichment entitlement in the curriculum marks a major step forward for arts access in education.
“If we are to ensure that arts and culture are for everyone, the classroom is only the start. As we have highlighted through our Theatre for Every Child campaign, access to school trips has fallen sharply, disproportionately affecting working-class children. Schools are facing a multitude of challenges, and finances are increasingly stretched. Delivering on the promise of the new core enrichment entitlement – which must include opportunities off the school premises as well as opportunities within schools – will require sustained funding.
“To truly enable an arts-rich education, schools must be properly equipped with the trained staff, time, and resources needed to deliver. Our members across the country stand ready to work with their local schools to turn this vision into a reality.”
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