New performance measure of GCSEs in England will include creative subjects
The British government is to scrap plans to replace GCSEs in key
subjects in England with a new English Baccalaureate Certificate.
Education secretary Michael Gove (pictured) announced the reversal
in the House of Commons today, along with changes to the national
curriculum and changes to the performance measures used in school
league tables.
The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), along with other arts
organisations, leading performing arts figures and string players
including Julian Lloyd Webber, Tasmin Little and Nicola Benedetti,
have campaigned against the English Baccalaureate measure, accusing
the government of sidelining creative subjects by not including
them alongside the measure's five core components – maths,
English, languages, humanities and science.
The government has now said it will introduce a new eight-subject
measure of GCSEs, including English and maths, three subjects out
of sciences, languages, history and geography and three other
subjects, such as art, music or RE.
In his statement to the Commons, Gove spelled out how the new
curriculum would be different on a subject-by-subject basis. He
said: 'In art and design there's a stronger emphasis on painting
and drawing skills, in music a balance between performance and
appreciation.'
ISM chief executive Deborah Annetts welcomed the announcement,
saying: 'The voices of the creative industries and education
sectors have been listened to, and we welcome this. We will now be
looking closely at the new proposed National Curriculum for music
and work with the Government to ensure that we have a National
Curriculum, GCSEs and A-levels fit for the future.'
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