Sporting and Performing Arts Opportunities for Pupils in State Schools

Earl of Clancarty Excerpts

Monday 2nd November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

Yes, while I have not seen the detail of that work, I am sure that it will be very helpful. I know that the work that DfE and DCMS have been doing together on this will be informed by the meeting the noble Baroness suggests. It is, of course, in order to promote arts education that we established this September the National Centre for Arts Education, but we are keen to hear further ideas about how we ensure that children can access a rich, high-quality arts education and other opportunities.

[The Earl of Clancarty (CB)]

My Lords, there is a community arts project aspect to this, as such projects should act in support of what happens in schools. Does the Minister agree that the local council and council-owned facilities—we had a question earlier on the relationship between local government and the arts—are hugely important at a time when too many council-owned assets, including buildings, are being sold off?

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

The most effective education in both arts and sports will need to use the broadest range of organisations and facilities, as the noble Earl says. We need to make sure we are building as many links as possible into schools, and I know that councils will be considering this when thinking about the use of their assets. Equally, of course, schools facilities should be used by others who can access them for sports and arts. Unless we work effectively together, we will not be using the resource that we have as well as possible to open up those opportunities to the most people, including both schoolchildren and those of us getting a bit older who also benefit from those activities.