Education: Music and the Arts Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Education: Music and the Arts

Baroness Prashar Excerpts
Monday 25th October 2021

(3 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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My noble friend will understand that I cannot announce the national plan before it has been published, but I hope that he will be delighted when he sees the plan in its detail, with its focus on disadvantaged children.

Baroness Prashar Portrait Baroness Prashar (CB)
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My Lords, arts help to transcend differences and divisions—they help to unite—but the increased focus on STEM subjects and the greater value put on the English baccalaureate have led to a narrowing of the curriculum and disproportionately affected arts education, particularly in disadvantaged areas. There was a manifesto commitment to a secondary school arts premium, which was confirmed in the 2020 Budget. When will the £90 million arts premium materialise?

Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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The noble Baroness will understand that I cannot prejudge the announcements from the Chancellor on Wednesday. When my noble friend Lady Berridge was in this role, she was clear that choices had to be made as a result of the pandemic—hence the delay.