Sporting and Performing Arts Opportunities for Pupils in State Schools

Lord Isaac Excerpts

Monday 2nd November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

I will come back to the noble Baroness about the specifics of that programme. It is a key part of the Government’s new PE partnership network that we will be able to create those links between local clubs, sporting organisations and schools. I am sure that the partnership will want to look carefully at whatever the most effective way of doing that is.

[Lord Isaac (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government’s decision to scrap the EBacc is very welcome. However, the impact of the EBacc on arts provision in schools will not be reversed overnight. What specific steps are the Government proposing to take to ensure that schools place greater value and emphasis on arts subjects, including performing arts, within the curriculum? If we do not support the performing arts, where will future “Celebrity Traitors” come from?

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

There might be some noble Lords who would quite like that—being in an environment where nobody can trust what anybody else is saying, and people getting booted out. Perhaps that is more down the other end of the Palace.

My noble friend makes a really important point about how we can promote arts education. That is the reason why we have established the National Centre for Arts Education. It will play a pivotal role in delivering the Government’s ambition to revitalise arts in schools, so that every child can access a rich, high-quality arts education. It will do that through providing strategic national leadership with a coalition of national, regional and local partners. It will support excellent teaching in our schools through a new online CPD offer and making sure there is full access to existing high-quality teacher development provision. It will promote arts education to school leaders, teachers, parents and young people, including how to progress in the arts and pursue interests and career aspirations.