Children's cultural initiative

ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the news that the Department for Children, Schools and Families has announced plans to give children easier access to cultural activities.

The plan includes at least 5 hours a week of access to a cultural activity to those who would usually miss out.

The government has listed acting, singing, learning a musical instrument or making a film as some of the activities that will be more readily available to young people.

Party Response: Liberal Democrats

Don Foster, spokesman for Culture, Media and Sport, said:"Gordon Brown says his Government has to take culture seriously.

"But it’s difficult to take seriously aspirations for more culture in our schools without realistic details about funding or how it will be squeezed into an overcrowded school curriculum.

"High quality culture takes more than high flowing words."

Stakeholder response: National Union of Teachers



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Steve Sinnott, general secretary, said: "All young people, not just those from well-off backgrounds, should be entitled to go to museums, art galleries and the theatre. The benefits for children are enormous.

"But there are two conditions which have to be in place. There has to be sufficient funding, not only for the extra school costs, but for cash strapped arts centres.
The pressures on schools caused by the excessive testing regime has to be lifted. Schools need the confidence to be able to stop teaching to the test.

"We still have an overloaded curriculum, particularly in primary schools. Its clutter needs to be stripped out to enable schools to be culturally creative".

Stakeholder response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

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Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary, said: "We very much believe all children should have time to listen to and participate in music, art, drama, dance every week. No-one can fault the government's aims. 

"But none of this is going to happen in an already overcrowded timetable where the emphasis is on test results and school league tables. The government can't have it both ways - it either accepts children should have a rounded education or it continues to insist on a narrow curriculum with endless testing."

Stakeholder response: Professional Association of Teachers



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Geraldine Everett, national chairman, a teacher and inclusion consultant in the East Midlands, said: "This is an admirable intention but naïve. It is fine-sounding rhetoric but demonstrates little understanding of the practical issues.

"Children should be able to experience culture – by watching, looking and listening, and by experiencing and doing – first-rate culture in drama, art, music, exhibitions etc.  Schools do cover cultural aspects in the already overloaded curriculum, but there is a balance to be found between what should be provided by the school during the day or offered as optional extra-curricular activities. 

"There aren't enough hours in the day to provide all the sport, cookery and culture the government would like on top of the current curriculum.

"Cultural visits to the theatre or galleries should be part of a child's education, but who, in the long-term, will meet the admission prices and transport costs? Museums and theatres may be round the corner in big cities but are not as accessible in smaller towns and rural areas."