How league tables stymie arts in schools

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/feb/20/how-league-tables-stymie-arts-in-schools

Version 0 of 1.

Your article on the Warwick commission report, highlighting how the arts are “being systematically removed from the education system” (Creativity draining away from schools, 18 February) misses a key factor as to why this is taking place: league tables. These have been based on a hierarchy of subjects whereby the arts give schools no advantage. Michael Gove’s wheeze of an English baccalaureate had the effect of relegating subjects like drama, dance, art and design to also-rans. Senior managements in many schools reacted immediately to this proposal and actively encouraged students to choose geography or history instead of arts subjects. The management team in schools is often single-mindedly focused on improving the schools points score in the league tables. In the wake of the EBacc announcement, two successful drama departments in Leicester went from cohorts of 50-plus GCSE students to just over 20 the following year.David CrossLeicester

• You repeat the assertion that “in the amateur arts sector, only 2% of participants are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background”. This is misleading. It comes from a 2008 report commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport which only looked at a very particular model of formally constituted amateur arts groups. Research by Voluntary Arts is revealing a fascinating picture of the range of ways in which amateur creative cultural activity takes place in the UK’s minority communities. In the week the BBC launches its Get Creative campaign to “shine a spotlight on the creativity that surrounds us everywhere”, we should be recognising and celebrating the sheer scale, wealth and diversity of creative cultural activity committed to voluntarily and often to the highest standards  in black, Asian and minority ethnic communities – and in all communities across the UK.Robin SimpsonChief executive, Voluntary Arts