Campaign to save ‘devalued’ arts subjects in schools launches

A new campaign is calling on the government to protect arts and technology subjects in English secondary schools.

Jointly run by the Independent Society of Musicians and the Edge Foundation, #SaveOurSubjects has been launched in response to the dramatic drop in entries for arts subjects and a decline in funding for music, arts and cultural programmes in schools.

The campaign cites figures showing a 40% fall in GCSE arts entries between 2010 and 2022 – a decline largely attributed to the introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) in 2010.

ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts said: "The rate at which music and arts subjects are disappearing from our schools is both staggering and frightening.

"Students deserve to be taught a truly broad and balanced curriculum that gives them the skills for the 21st-century workplace."

The campaign wants the government to review the impact of school accountability measures including the EBacc, and to give students more freedom of choice at GCSE level.

It is also calling for a commitment to the Arts Premium promised in the Conservative Party's 2019 general election manifesto.