Today’s news that Michael Gove has scrapped plans to replace GCSEs with English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBCs) for core subjects is welcome. At least it means that there will not be a further increase in focus in these subjects from 2015 onwards.
However, it does not alter the fact that the proposed ‘pillars’ of the EBacc performance measure still exclude art, craft and design.
Along with many in the arts, cultural and creative industries, we continue to be concerned that, with arts and technical subjects relegated to a second tier of non-core subjects, there is a real prospect that schools, parents and pupils will pay them little heed.
A recent Ipsos MORI survey on the EBacc’s effects to date highlighted that, despite teachers not actively encouraging pupils to take the EBacc combination, there has been a 123% increase in the proportion of pupils studying EBacc subjects amongst those due to sit exams in 2014.
Alongside this, in 2011/2012, 23% of schools restructured their option blocks to increase EBacc pathways and 9% reduced non-EBacc options.
While we wholeheartedly support the Secretary of State’s desire to imbue the education system with a greater degree of rigour, we feel that same rigour needs to be applied to a wider range of topics.
To this end, we are in dialogue with the Department for Education, the Cultural Learning Alliance and the Associate Parliamentary Design & Innovation Group to advocate for art, craft and design subjects.
It can’t be overstated how important it is for the nation’s future that an additional ‘pillar’ of art, craft and design is introduced to the EBacc.
To see all the Crafts Council’s activity on the proposed EBacc click here.
