News

A Government commissioned report by Classic FM boss Darren Henley has advised ministers to consider making pupils study the arts up to the age of 16 amid fears that the coalition is ignoring cultural education.

Concerns in education have been raised since the introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc). To achieve the EBacc pupils must gain at least a C in English, maths, science, a foreign language and history or geography. However, it does not include other arts subjects such as dance, drama, design or music. In his review of cultural education, Darren Henley suggests including a "sixth group" within the EBacc to cover these subjects.

Mr Henley, managing director of Classic FM, was asked to conduct the review by ministers in April last year.The findings say that while in some places education in the arts is "truly excellent" in others there is a dearth of provision that needs to be addressed to bring standards up to a universally high level across the country.

The report later addresses cultural education in the school curriculum, warning that arts subjects risk being devalued, and losing funding, if they are removed following the current national curriculum review.

The review calls on the government to underline the importance it places on cultural education, recognising the value of gaining qualifications in these subjects. In its response to Mr Henley's review, the ministers insisted that learning about the nation's culture and playing a part in the cultural life of a school and community was vital to developing an identity.