Arts Education
Debate between Baroness Hodge of Barking and Baroness Twycross(3 weeks, 4 days ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
As an arts graduate, I entirely associate myself with the comments made by the right reverend Prelate. We are clear that arts education is important. That is why it was at the heart of the independent curriculum and assessment review, encouraging creative arts education and opening access to art, design, dance, drama and music to every child anywhere. On the right reverend Prelate’s points regarding DfE policy, I will highlight his question to my noble friend Lady Smith. However, I am clear that, like DCMS, DfE is committed to a strong arts education at every stage throughout young people’s education.
Baroness Hodge of Barking (Lab)
My Lords, I thank the Minister for her statement on the progress being made in setting up the group. Does she agree that there is a woeful underfunding of cultural and creative education in our schools? Schools cannot afford the buses to take children to museums, they cannot afford to pay for professional teachers and they cannot afford to buy the musical instruments. In undertaking our review, we lit on the role of trusts, foundations and philanthropy. If we are to make an urgent impact on what is available to children in schools, we need to bring in those trusts, foundations and philanthropists to help us to fund those facilities in schools. What discussions have Ministers had with trusts, foundations, and philanthropic institutions and individuals to ensure that they contribute to bringing a good creative education to our children urgently?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
Philanthropy is a significant way that we can harness the power of giving. My noble friend may be aware that Minister Peacock in the other place, who is responsible for philanthropy, recently published a philanthropy strategy and plan for how we can get place-based strategy. We are aware that it is often a barrier for schools to access the arts and trips to museums. We want to explore every avenue we can to make sure children can get to museums. Indeed, the Southeastern Railway that goes to Hastings provided 1,066 tickets for schoolchildren from the Battle of Hastings countryside to access the exhibition.