‘Cultural Education: A Summary of Programmes and Opportunities’ Published

First published on Mon, July 08, 2013.

The Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport jointly released a new document on Friday, ‘Cultural Education: A Summary of Programmes and Opportunities’. The report purports to build on Darren Henley’s ‘Review of Cultural Education’, published in February 2012, but largely describes programmes of work already underway rather than setting out a new agenda for cultural education in schools.

One such programme referenced is Creative & Cultural Skills and Arts Council England’s Creative Employment Programme, which aims to create 6,500 apprenticeships, traineeships and paid internships for young unemployed peopled aged 16-24. Other programmes highlighted include Studio Schools, Music Education Hubs and Cultural Passports.

Throughout the report, schools are encouraged to “offer a wider spread of creative subjects”, although how this should be achieved is not directly specified. The document also signals a commitment to developing “worthwhile and rigorous qualifications in the arts and creative subjects”. Creative & Cultural Skills, as research delivery partner for Arts Council England, are currently conducting a review of current GCSE provision in the arts, with the intention of developing new Programmes of Study on this basis. The findings will be published later this year.