ISM MUSIC JOURNAL JULY/AUGUST 2022 | NEWS & CAMPAIGNS
News & campaigns teachers on the contents of the draft NPME before it is finalised. Read the letter in full: ism.org/news/ ism-letter-to-baroness-barran
ISM responds to the Schools White Paper The Department for Education (DfE) has released the first Schools White Paper since 2016. Entitled Opportunity for All, it aims to make sure every child has an excellent teacher who delivers high standards of curriculum, behaviour and attendance, and puts targeted support in place for those who need it, all underpinned by a stronger and fairer school system in England. Much of the paper’s focus is on English and maths, with cultural education mentioned in just one paragraph: ‘As part of a richer school week, all children Why Lady Barran should not dismiss should be entitled to take part in sport, music and ‘crisis’ in creative subjects cultural opportunities. These opportunities are an essential part of a broad and ambitious curriculum, Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the ISM, has written to Baroness Barran, the Minister for the School and support children’s health, wellbeing and wider development, particularly as we recover from the System, about the Baroness’s recent denial that pandemic. The government will publish updated plans creative subjects are struggling in English schools. to support sport and music education in 2022, and will Lady Barran’s comment was made in a Lords’ debate publish a cultural education plan in 2023, working with about the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) and creative the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport subjects in schools. In response to a question from and Arts Council England. This will include how best to Lord Storey, Lady Barran stated: ‘We simply do not support young people who wish to pursue careers in accept that there is a crisis in creative subjects.’ our creative and cultural industries.’ The ISM believes this seriously underestimates The ISM welcomes the government’s commitment the problems facing subjects such as music in to music as part of the school week. Music brings English schools. enormous educational and emotional benefits to The letter relayed findings from the ISM’s latest report, students. However, additional funding will be required Music: A subject in peril?, which showed that music to ensure music education is delivered to all schools has been badly damaged by years of underfunding and at a high standard. and the effects of accountability measures such as We also look forward to engaging with the government the EBacc and Progress 8. It also points out concerns over the recent Schools White Paper, which has moved on the new cultural education plan. We have sought assurances from the DfE that funding for this plan will from talking about a ‘broad and balanced’ curriculum not be at the detriment of funding for Music Education to a ‘broad and ambitious’ one, suggesting a possible Hubs or indeed impact music funding in any way. narrowing of focus away from creative subjects such as music. Read the White Paper and the ISM’s response: ism.org/news/ Finally, the letter enquired about the refreshed New ism-response-to-schools-white-paper Plan for Music Education (NPME), which was due to be published in early 2022, and requested assurances that the government will keep its promise to consult
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