Don't push Arts out of English Baccalaureate, warns Sir Ken Robinson

We asked internationally renowned education, creativity and innovation guru Sir Ken Robinson to reflect on the current challenges in creative learning and cultural education.

(View on youtube and click 'cc' settings under the film for subtitles.)

In this special film, shown for the first time at A New Direction’s conference for London teachers on 05 December 2011, Sir Ken makes a wide-ranging speech setting out the role and value of creative and cultural education, and an impassioned plea to put creativity at the heart of education, arguing that the Arts should not be squeezed out of the curriculum but should be at the centre of an effective and rounded education.

He says that although impending changes to the national curriculum create opportunities, excluding arts subjects from the new English Baccalaureate threatens to greatly minimise the role of art in education, and will stifle creativity across the curriculum – to the detriment of young people.

“The Government properly now is arguing for the importance of arts in schools. I find it perplexing therefore that the arts shouldn’t be featured in the English Baccalaureate. If there’s to be an English Baccalaureate at all then the arts should be four square with the sciences, the humanities and physical education. Otherwise it’s simply a mixed message and a distractive one.”

Reflecting on the groundbreaking 'All Our Futures' report, published in 1999 and led by Sir Ken, which argued for creativity to be put at the heart of young people’s education, he said that education has three core purposes:

It meets economic needs by encouraging young people to be adaptable and innovative

It has a cultural purpose by helping young people understand the world and the values they live by

It has a personal value by engaging and stimulating young people and reducing drop out rates.

“The challenges are greater and the stakes higher than they have ever been. Youth unemployment is a catastrophe for people who are the peak of their energy and aspiration. It breeds despair and creates festering social problems. Creative cultural education is at the centre of meeting those challenges.”

Steve Moffitt, Chief Executive Officer, A New Direction:

‘It is a really timely moment to hear from Sir Ken about his thoughts on creative learning. Schools are under increasing pressure to restrict the curriculum to the traditional ‘academic’ subjects – this could really undermine the great work we have done in the UK to bring a more creative approach to learning in schools and to work with artists and creative organisations.

I’m excited to hear from Sir Ken about how he sees the challenges ahead and how organisations like A New Direction can support and encourage schools to stick with a creative agenda’.

A New Direction's questions to Sir Ken Robinson

Question 1 - 'All Our Futures'
Do you still stand by this document as a blueprint for an education system relevant and meaningful for young people in the 21st century?

Question 2 - Creative Partnerships
What was the impact of Creative Partnerships and can we take this experience forward?

Question 3 - Education Policy and Society
What are the one or two things you would encourage Michael Gove to do in order to nurture talent in young people and give them the skills they need to thrive?

Question 4 - Education Policy and Society 2
Are you more or less hopeful now than you were in 2006, when you gave your TED lecture 'Schools Kill Creativity', that we can provide young people with the right environment to develop their creativity?

Question 5 - Sir Ken Robinson - Arts and Creativity in Schools
What advice would you give to senior leaders and governors in schools to maintain a creative and cultural offer for their students in a period of radical transformation and change?

Question 6 - Artsmark
As the position of the arts in the curriculum is questioned and challenged, what advice would you give to schools about engaging in the Artsmark initiative?

Question 7 - Arts Award
What is the significance of the Arts Award initiative for you? Is there another leadership in the arts accreditation for young people similar to this anywhere else in the world?

Question 8 - London and its International Significance
What do you think is unique about London and its creative and cultural offer to schools?

Question 9 - London and its International Significance (Part 2)
What difference do you think the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games could bring to the way schools and the creative and cultural sector work together?

Question 10 - Building the Future
From what you know about A New Direction, a former Creative Partnerships delivery organization, and as a new 'Bridge', what do you think about what it could achieve in the future?