Taking baby steps into music

Photo of a baby dancing
13 Dec 2018

A non-verbal approach to music-making for the very youngest children offers a comfortable environment for new parents experiencing anxiety, as well as a joyful time for babies, says Hannah Baker.

The arts on a full tummy

Photo of a mother holding a child
13 Dec 2018

Stratford Circus Arts Centre, based in an area of London with high levels of child poverty, has come to realise that providing low-cost hot meals can help it engage with local families. Tania Wilmer tells the story.

The devil's in the distance

Photo of an actress portraying a child, crying out
13 Dec 2018

The opportunities for very young children to experience the arts in rural Devon are few, as well as inconvenient and expensive. How can less culturally engaged families enjoy live performances, asks Amy Bere.

DCMS Minister: EBacc partly to blame for decline in music at GCSE

Photo of Margot James
07 Dec 2018

Digital Minister Margot James’s comments to a parliamentary inquiry are in marked contrast to previous comments from Government ministers.

MPs to assess ‘class ceiling’ in the arts

Photo of Ed Vaizey
30 Nov 2018

A new parliamentary inquiry will report on the barriers to social mobility and identify practical action that can be taken by charities and the Government to address them.

Trusting young people in care

Young people rehearsing dance routine
29 Nov 2018

Nathan Geering explains how a hip-hop dance production has helped give a voice to young people in the care system.

A vital contribution

School children laughing
29 Nov 2018

Vital Spark is a national initiative aiming to create more inclusive and diverse performances for children and young people. Tara Lopez tells the story.

Is there a music education crisis?

Photo of singer with microphone
22 Nov 2018

Secondary schools have been subject to cutbacks in music education, but we shouldn't lose sight of the many recent successes and advances in this area, argues Carol Reid.

Measure breadth of curriculum to protect arts education, MPs urged

Photo of children at school
16 Nov 2018

An acclaimed headteacher said that ringfenced funding for arts subjects will amount to ‘throwing money down the hole’ unless schools are also encouraged to value wider curriculums.

Advice on arts A Levels is not Government’s business, says minister

Photo of House of Lords
26 Oct 2018

Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Education Lord Agnew said that arguments for  music to be viewed as a ‘facilitating subject’ should be taken to the universities.

Report calls for ‘arts premium’ for schools

Photo of storm
19 Oct 2018

6,000 students from across England shared why and how they engage in cultural activity, with a quarter saying that their school introduced them to the arts.

The value of creative thinking

Three children playing drums
18 Oct 2018

What exactly do we mean by creativity, and how will the UK measure up when the world education league tables start assessing it in 2021? Bill Lucas examines the evidence.

Peers voice concern for post-Brexit arts in ‘beautifully one-sided’ debate

Photo of parliament
12 Oct 2018

The Government representative did not provide any further clarity on the future of EU arts funding, progress on reciprocal agreements or timetables.

Ofsted to refocus on ‘broad curriculum’

A group of children singing
12 Oct 2018

Campaigners against the EBacc have welcomed the move, but say it will not be enough on its own to save arts subjects.

£5m scheme to increase young people’s access to performing arts

Photo of coloured pencils
04 Oct 2018

Places with fewer opportunities to take part in performances will be prioritised in the scheme.

Letter: Recognition where it’s due

26 Sep 2018

English teachers are arts teachers too – and should be recognised and supported as such, says Amanda Rigali.

Arts venues aim to make Newcastle ‘best place to be young’

Kema Kay
21 Sep 2018

The City of Dreams strategy aims to engage 165,000 under-25s in the arts every year for the next 10 years, and hopes to address poverty and mental health challenges.

EBacc blamed for growing gender imbalance in GCSE choices

21 Sep 2018

Female entries for GCSE music outnumbered those from males by almost 4,000 in 2017/18, compared to just 764 five years ago.

Fostering young talent

Photo of crowd of young people with man raising his arm
20 Sep 2018

Nurturing young people’s talent is a key part of improving diversity in the arts sector, says Jacqueline Haxton.

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