Memorandum submitted by Arts Council England

Arts Council England welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the above inquiry in examining the value of creativity within the curriculum and how this can be assessed and defined. We are optimistic that outcomes of an inquiry could have a significant impact on the future shape and direction of Arts Council England's activities in relation to education and learning, as well as the education system as a whole.

Arts Council England is the development agency for the arts and a key funder of the arts sector in England. In 2005 we published a three-year strategy for Children, Young People and the Arts which set out our vision that every child and young person in the country should be entitled to engagement with high quality arts, and access to creative experiences.

We strongly believe that this engagement should be in part through working with the arts community, via partnerships developed between schools and creative industries. One of our roles is to support artists and arts organisation to be able to effectively build these partnerships and have the right skills, knowledge and understanding to ensure quality experiences for young people - whether they are as audience members or participants.

A growing number of young people will move into careers in the creative industries. We are committed to supporting progression routes for these young people and working with key partners to ensure schools provide opportunities, both in the classroom and through work-based learning, to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding of their chosen specialist area(s) of the arts.

Our national strategic interventions aim to effect change in schools and in the arts sector, in order for our vision to be realised, to the benefit of children and young people in all parts of England through. We do this through:

- Creative Partnerships, a flagship creativity programme for schools and young people, led by Arts Council England and funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) with additional support from the Department for Children, School and Families (DCSF). It aims to develop the creativity of young people, raising their aspirations and achievements. In addition the programme develops the skills of teachers and their ability to work with creative practitioners and supports schools' approaches to culture, creativity and partnership working whilst developing the skills, capacity and sustainability of the creative industries.

 

Creative Partnerships focuses on the most deprived communities in England. The programme achieves its aims by nurturing the creativity of learners and educators, and developing creative approaches to teaching all aspects of the curriculum. Creative Partnerships enables headteachers to realise their personal vision for a school, freeing them up to innovate and succeed. It encourages an approach designed around the needs of the individual school, with learning tailored to the needs and aspirations of each child.

Creative Partnerships enables schools to work with creative practitioners to develop a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum by supporting a range of creative practitioners to work in partnership with schools in long term sustained relationships.

- Arts Award is a national qualification which recognises young people's development as artists and arts leaders. It appeals to young people of all interests, abilities and cultural backgrounds, and leads to qualifications at Bronze (NQF Level 1), Silver (NQF Level 2) and Gold (NQF Level 3) level. The Arts Award is run by Arts Council England in partnership with Trinity Guildhall, and supported by Canon (UK) Ltd. Nine regional agencies support the delivery of the award across the country and maintain a growing network of local training providers.

- Artsmark is the national award scheme that recognises schools' commitment to the arts, supported by the DCMS, DCSF, Ofsted and QCA. Currently almost 4,000 schools (15% of all schools) have an Artsmark award. I order to be given Artsmark status, schools have to demonstrate that they have well-considered management of the arts, provide a minimum entitlement to arts lessons in curriculum time (3 hours/wk), provide choice of creative Extended Services opportunities and provide relevant professional development opportunities for teachers. Importantly, they have also built a range of partnerships with the professional arts sector.

- Arts Extend is built on the belief that the arts can and should play a vital part in the Extended Services provision. Through Extended Services more children, young people and their families could have the opportunity to participate in arts and creative activities, and enable the arts sector to widen its reach. We believe that the arts in extended schools can go further than just being part of a varied programme of activities, and that they can significantly contribute to the provision of each of the Extended Services requirements. This programme is being piloted in nine Local Authorities across England, and is supported by the TDA, 4Children, ContinYou and DCSF.

- Arts organisations, libraries, museums, archives and schools in Telford, Durham and Bournemouth & Poole are developing a cultural offer for children and young people through the Cultural Hubs programme. Now in its second year, Cultural Hubs is delivered in partnership with the MLA and is exploring a broad cultural offer for children and young people, at the heart of which is effective partnership working and joint-planning between the cultural and education sectors.

- The Young People's Participatory Theatre programme is a 3-year DCMS funded initiative to develop youth and participatory theatre in England 2005/06 - 2008/09. The definition of theatre within the scope of this project includes circus, street arts and experimental theatre and the age range we are working with is young people aged 11 - 25 years. The programme aims include: a commitment to increase young people's access to and participation in theatre, raising the profile and status of participatory work, and positively addressing issues of quality.

- Building Schools for the Future (BSF) provides a unique opportunity to ensure that schools across the country are fully equipped to reflect and develop further the vibrant arts opportunities available for students and communities. Arts Council England has invested support through the development of a BSF Culture website (currently being expanded as a national resource) and through funding strategic regional posts to work with Local Authorities and schools on school design. Our growing partnership with Partnerships 4 Schools encourages commissioners and designers to embed creativity into their plans, including consultation with students and the school community.

The growth and economic impact of the creative industries, as reported in the recent Hutton report 'Staying Ahead', supports the argument for education to be linked to the real world of work - particularly the development of industry-specific skills. The Arts Council will be key in responding to the challenges and opportunities set out in that report. For creative industries to continue to grow an increasingly educated demand-side is also required - we provide early exposure to culture, and learning opportunities across the age ranges to ensure more culturally aware communities. We are also in a position to strategically respond to the need for those entering, or in, the creative industries to achieve the high-quality, industry-specific skills that are clearly required.

The Arts Council is also fully supportive of the new Creative and Media Diplomas and has advised on their development through the Industry Advisory Panel membership. The real world contexts and workplace learning elements of this Diploma will allow young people to better understand the creative industries. It is likely the Arts Award will be an option unit for this Diploma. We have also worked with Cultural and Creative Skills in the development of the Creative Apprenticeships, particularly through the development of a new National Skills Academy for performing arts.

Arts Council England will continue to review and develop its portfolio of work to reflect the emerging priorities of the Department of Culture, Media and Sports whilst also aligning with relevant priorities of the Departments for Children, Schools and Families and Innovation, Universities and Skills. Arts Council priorities will reflect the aim of ensuring every child receives the best possible start in life, to fulfil their individual potential and in ensuring that the UK has the skilled workforce it needs to compete in a global economy.

July 2007