At this week's launch, MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl (right) spoke about the importance of access to music education for the next generation. Photo: © Arts and Minds Campaign.
Leading figures from across the arts joined forces to launch the Arts and Minds campaign at a spectacular event at the Tate Modern in London last week.
Attended by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, the event showcased the power of the arts and highlighted the campaign’s aim that all children should have the right to study arts subjects, and that arts funding in schools should be fully restored.
Arts and Minds is a coalition of over 20 organisations including the National Education Union, Musicians’ Union and Equity. Speakers and performers at the launch included Dame Arlene Phillips, musicians Andy Gangadeen (drummer with Chase & Status) and Harry Shotta, actor Jamie Kenna (Peaky Blinders) and artists Bob and Roberta Smith. MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl spoke about the importance of access to music education for the next generation.
The campaign is supported by many other well-known names including Steve Coogan, classical music stars the Kanneh-Mason family, dancer and choreographer Carlos Acosta, writer Michael Rosen, cartoonist Steve Bell, and Billy Elliot creator Lee Hall.
The challenges facing arts subjects
New research* for the campaign shows that 90% of GCSE students want to study an arts subject. However, two-thirds of school leaders report that they cannot offer the full suite of art, music, dance, drama or media to GCSE level.
Overall, participation in arts subjects at GCSE has fallen by 42% since 2010. Meanwhile, half (48%) of parents say they cannot afford extra-curricular arts activities, meaning that millions of children are denied the chance to foster their talents and explore future careers. This is despite the UK’s creative industries delivering more to the economy than the life sciences, aerospace and automotive sectors combined.
School leaders point to a lack of funding to explain the gap. At GCSE level, one in four school leaders say they do not have enough funding for teachers and resources, or they do not have the necessary facilities. Over a third (34%) – rising to 48% in schools in the most deprived areas – cannot find specialist teachers for these subjects.
The campaign’s demands
The Arts and Minds campaign is asking the government to make five commitments to put creativity at the heart of learning:
- A right to study arts and creative subjects for all children regardless of their background.
- Restore the status of arts and creative education – scrap the EBacc, restore parity between subjects, and give schools the trust and flexibility they need.
- End the exam factory culture – end high-stakes assessments at primary school and reduce the exam burden at GCSE.
- Equip the education system to deliver the broad and balanced curriculum our communities want – increase teacher and subject specific CPD for all teachers.
- Fund the arts – restore school funding to allow schools to invest in arts education, and restore arts funding to facilitate links between the education system and the industry.
MU members care passionately about access to music education for all children
Sarah Kilpatrick, President of the National Education Union, commented: “The lack of support for creative subjects has two main drivers – lack of funding and the reduced status of the arts. But the arts make us who we are. Not only do they contribute significantly to the UK economy, but they open minds and communities. Creativity is central to the human experience, and it is more important than ever that we support and invest in the arts.”
MU National Organiser for Education Chris Walters, who represents the MU at the Arts and Minds coalition, said: “MU members care passionately about access to music education for all children, regardless of their ability to pay. I am delighted that this campaign seeks to unite all art forms, showing that the same struggles are common across all of us. Together, we will hold the Labour government to its manifesto pledges to support arts subjects in education.”
Find out more about the arts and minds campaign.
*Research details
- School leaders: Teacher Tapp, December 2024 and January 2025, 618 secondary school leaders; 993 primary school leaders.
- GCSE students: WeThink/Omnisis, January 2025, 754 GCSE/BTec 2 students.
- Parents: WeThink/Omnisis, January 2025, 1881 parents of children under 18.
- GCSE participation: Cultural Learning Alliance, May 2024, quoting DfE figures.