Education: English Baccalaureate

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Berkeley of Knighton

Monday 3rd July 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I agree that a GCSE is an extremely good basis. In fact, the drop in take-up of design and technology over the last six years has been less than the drop over the previous four years to 2010. We are keen to improve the quality of those subjects and to give our pupils a wider choice of subjects.

[Lord Berkeley of Knighton (CB)]

My Lords, given that the Government frequently salute the creative industries for what they bring into the Exchequer and the tourists they bring to this country, is the Minister not concerned about the next generation of creative artists, who are not getting the necessary inspiration they need while at school?

Schools: Bad Behaviour

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Berkeley of Knighton

Tuesday 25th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Berkeley of Knighton (CB)]

My Lords, a lot of research has shown that exposure to music and drama in young children tempers behaviour. I wonder whether the Government would like to commit to supporting music and drama in schools and, indeed, increasing it?

[Lord Nash]

We fully support music and drama in all schools; it can be a very calming influence. When we took over in my own school they had a bell which sounded like a submarine, which I thought was very uncalming. We now have a piece of piano music, the noble Lord may be delighted to hear. An active music/drama programme should be central to every school’s curriculum.