Resolved-

This Council notes that the UK's Creative Industries are worth over £80 billion per year to the UK economy and account for nearly 2 million jobs.

The ‘Bacc for the Future’ campaign led and supported by over 200 arts and education organisations forewarned that the introduction of the English Baccalaureate would put arts subjects at risk.

This Council notes the recent disturbing report by the Education Policy Institute ‘Entries to arts subjects at Key Stage 4’ which, at a national level, identifies a link between the introduction of the English Baccalaureate and Progress 8 and the decline in the number of pupils taking arts subjects in 2016 to its lowest level for a decade.

This Council calls on the Government to evaluate the impact of the introduction of the English Baccalaureate and the use of Progress 8 as an accountability measure on the take up of arts subjects at Key Stage 4 and take actions to remedy any decline that might have occurred.

This Council also believes that Art & Culture play an important role in the development of a child and welcomes the continuing commitment to the Education Covenant, which includes championing the District’s unique art and cultural offer. This Council asks the Director of Children’s Services to further strengthen the cultural element of the Education Covenant in conjunction with local partners as well as Arts Council England.

ACTION:       Strategic Director Children’s Services