The Guardian view on the arts in schools: classrooms need more creativity | Editorial

Iand English school review Under Professor Becky Francis leads to a batch of art, this will be an excellent result. Indeed, many young people have good experiences in creative learning. Art and Design is a famous GCSE, while classrooms and classroom concerts are the main element in primary school calendar – in real life as well as the latest Bridge Jones movie.

but Contrast Among the opportunities in government and private schools is enormous. The temporary report takes a seriously professor Francis Committee Fears The arts have been compressed by a lot of children’s learning. He points out that the national curricula aim to “generate an appreciation of human creativity.” But since 2010, when schools have been encouraged by Michael Goff to direct students towards a group of English, mathematics, science, language, history or geography, the arts were deported to the second violin.

GCSES, of course, is not all and end. Not everything that happens in school leads to an exam. But the government’s decision to put higher value on other qualifications It had an effect. There are many reasons for regretting this, as did this column Before. Our ability to express creative and fictional sympathy is a part of making us human. In the United Kingdom, creative industries are economically and culturally important. Encouraging the development of these capabilities in childhood – along with literacy, mathematics, etc. – must be a basic task for teachers.

To some extent, it is already. Children generally draw, dance and sing before they write. But the efforts made to raise the standards in primary schools, in light of both workers’ governments and conservative governments, witnessed the focus on playing and creativity while the knowledge of reading, writing and mathematics was intensified. In high school, likewise, a strong focus on academic achievement alongside Discounts It means that eating arts topics, including drama, has declined.

the review Parents’ calls are also highlighted to get more applied learning – for example, financial and interview skills. It is noted that the views of the curriculum are very diverse. But early positive signs are that the current focus on English baccalaureate will be reduced in favor of the most flexible progress 8.

The general image is complex. Evidence indicates this The standards in mathematics and science increased In English schools. But the attendance failed to apostasy because the epidemic is deeply related. The latest numbers It showed that the absence rate in 2023-24 was 7.1 %, compared to 4.7 % in 2018-19. The pressure on the transmission ruling (for students with special needs and educational) is intense – with councils Facing a collective deficit of 5 billion poundsAnd absence rates are incorrectly high for these students. The retreat of mental and emotional well -being for children and youth is among the most challenges facing our health services and our society.

It would be brightly claiming that more dance or drawing in the classroom would solve these problems. However, as John Harris description At an article at the end of last week, for some children, creativity is very important, while from an educational point of view it can support inclusion. Focus arts in Private schools and wealthy areas Not just-not only because, along with science and mathematics, they can be a path to good functions but because participating in arts and culture enhances life.

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