The Cultural Learning Alliance reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the new National Plan for Cultural Education.
For the last 18 months the government has been trailing the publication of its National Plan for Cultural Education. With Ministers from Maria Miller to Michael Gove citing its existence as evidence of the government’s commitment to this agenda.
However, last Friday afternoon, the DCMS and DfE very quietly published their flagship document on Cultural Education, and we note that the title has been changed from a ‘Plan’ to a ‘Summary’. This makes sense, as although the document acts as a dossier of interesting existing activity, it has no National Plan attached and launches no new initiatives or ideas – a stark contrast to the well-received National Plan for Music Education of 2011.
What’s good about it?
It is good to see the Department of Education and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport working closely together on an issue as critical to our individual and collective success and wellbeing as cultural education. We welcome the acknowledgement from Ministers that ‘no education can be complete, indeed no programme of education can even begin, without making the arts and creativity central to a child's life.’
For the last 18 months the government has been trailing the publication of its National Plan for Cultural Education. With Ministers from Maria Miller to Michael Gove citing its existence as evidence of the government’s commitment to this agenda.
However, last Friday afternoon, the DCMS and DfE very quietly published their flagship document on Cultural Education, and we note that the title has been changed from a ‘Plan’ to a ‘Summary’. This makes sense, as although the document acts as a dossier of interesting existing activity, it has no National Plan attached and launches no new initiatives or ideas – a stark contrast to the well-received National Plan for Music Education of 2011.
What’s good about it?
It is good to see the Department of Education and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport working closely together on an issue as critical to our individual and collective success and wellbeing as cultural education. We welcome the acknowledgement from Ministers that ‘no education can be complete, indeed no programme of education can even begin, without making the arts and creativity central to a child's life.’