Arts & Crafts & the EBacc

[Andy Coates]

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) threatens the very future of creative subjects - like Music, Art, Design & Technology, Drama and Dance.

By missing them off its list of core areas children must study, the Government is undermining their place at the heart of learning.

Your voice is vital to help change this.

http://www.baccforthefuture.com/

[Bryan Milham]

Andy,

well done on bringing this to our attention.

Duly signed.

[woodndesign]

Have signed as well.

David

[David Buskell]

Have signed as well - thanks for bringing it to our attention. I notice that the music industry is supporting the petition but we haven't had anything from them on this.

Arts & Crafts are alive and well in the private school sector - at the moment.

David

[Philip Green]

I heard from a local teacher that D & T was being taken out of the national curriculum but was not aware that it extended to the arts.

My local school has not reduced the amount of D & T that it teaches and that includes woodturning, with a little help from one of my clubs.

I have emailed both my clubs urging them to sign and to contact our local MPs.

Is the AWGB going to become one of the supporters listed on the http://www.baccforthefuture.com/ website?

[David Buskell]

My other business is music publishing and have contacted UKMusic one of the supporters listed.

Our local MP near our club is Paul Burstow (on the news today) and will see if we should contact him.He's currently trying to cut back on winter fuel payments to pensioners!

Andy - how about putting this out in an e-shot/facebook/twitter etc to reach more members?

David

[thebowlerhattedturner]

I've signed and I will write a letter too.
Regards
John BHT

[John]

Have signed as well.
John

[Terry Miller]

Replied also

Terry

[thebowlerhattedturner]

For what it is worth,
                     I wrote a letter to my local MP, here is his reply:-

Thank you. You make a good point and I’ll write to the Education Secretary about it.

Regards,

Andrew Murrison

So I will look forward to the results.
Regards
John BHT

[TONY MALIN]

I'm sure Michael Gove is already well aware of the points raised in the uproar against the EB, which started immediately after it was introduced.

It's a modern version of the old requirements for "matriculation" which I obtained in 1940. At the time, the requirement was to achieve credits in at least 5 subjects at the then School Certificate. Of the 5, english language and maths were obligatory. The PURPOSE was to establish a benchmark for further education. My other three were science, french and english literature. THIS DID NOT PRECLUDE OTHER SUBJECTS, including woodwork, from the overall syllabus. Of all these the most import during my career as an electical engineer turned out to be english language. It is of course THE most difficult subject. Try UNDERSTANDING the small print in a contract, or writing an unambiguous specification.

TONY MALIN

[David Buskell]

Tonight's Evening Standard, page 13:

"Ebacc must not exclude arts, warn dealers"

Directors of 70% of the galleries at this week's London Arts Fair said the arts should be included in the Ebacc qualification.

Article is also a plug for the Fair at the Design Centre Islington, but does also say that some big names such as Sir Nicholas Serota and Charles Saatchi support the cause.

David

[thebowlerhattedturner]

So,
     earlier I posted that I had written to my MP about this and he said he would bring it to the Education Secretary's attention. Yesterday I had a letter from the House of Commons with a reply enclosed.
 I do not think it is polite to reproduce the whole letter here but I have picked out a few salient points.
"(The Government) want to make sure every child has the opportunity to paint,draw and sculpt;enjoy dance, and master the principles of design and craftsmanship. That is why arts subjects and music are in the National Curriculum from the start of primary school to the end of Key Stage 3-when children are 14.And every young person has an entitlement to take an arts subject on to the age of 16".
   There are one or two other points made and the comment that " the Arts Council is undertaking work to review curricula and qualifications in arts subjects".
        I just thought you would be interested in this,
Regards
John BHT

[homeofwood]

I have signed this.. close to my heart as all our children our envolved.. they did have a talk about this at our school last week..

[Eric Harvey]

thanks for putting the post up Andy,have signed,regards,

Eric.