Today, a letter signed by 100 organisations and individuals representing a broad range of interests, from The National Portrait Gallery to the National Governors Association and including a-n’s Head of Programmes and Editor Gillian Nicol, has been handed into Downing Street.
The letter, addressed to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, is part of a campaign calling for an extended consultation period for the new English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBacc), in order to address the absence of creative and vocational subjects in the proposed new qualification for 16-year-olds.
The letter was handed in by Deborah Annetts, CEO, Incorporated Society Of Musicians and co-ordinator of Bacc for the Future Campaign; Joe McCleod, #includeDesign Campaign; Marilyn Harrop, President, The National Union of Teachers; and Kathryn James, Director of Policy, National Association of Head Teachers.
The letter, including the full list of signatories, is reproduced below:
Dear Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,
We wish to express our concerns about the review of secondary school examinations being undertaken by the Secretary of State for Education.
As you will know, many influential figures from the world of the arts, design, sport and industry have expressed their concerns about the limited remit of the English Baccalaureate.
Whilst not being opposed to the reform of the system of examinations, nor to the drive to raise standards, we are concerned that the current consultation on the introduction of English Baccalaureate Certificates is too limited and that decisions are being made too quickly.
We need an examination system which ensures pupils receive a rigorous, broad and balanced curriculum. We do not believe the current proposals for EBCs will do that. By failing to give parity to high quality creative and vocational subjects, as well as sport, these reforms will jeopardise our children’s education and undermine the economic and cultural health of our nation.
We are therefore calling for the consultation period to be extended in both time and content to ensure any concerns are addressed before steps are taken to implement EBCs. This extended consultation should fully engage with the views of parents, students, governors, businesses, teachers, head teachers and other concerned stakeholders before any changes are made.
A small group of the signatories to this letter would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further explain our concerns and discuss ways in which the Government could initiate a national conversation about examination reform.
Yours sincerely,
Russell Hobby, General Secretary, NAHT
Christine Blower, General Secretary, NUT
Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive, Incorporated Society of Musicians
Joe Macleod, IncludeDesign
Ruth Mackenzie CBE
Sandy Nairne, Director, National Portrait Gallery
Neil Constable, Chief Executive, Shakespeare’s Globe
Jo Dipple, CEO, UK Music
Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director, National Theatre
Lord Puttnam, Chair of the Cultural Learning Alliance
Anthony Sargent, General Director, The Sage Gateshead
David Pickard, General Director, Glyndebourne
Gillian Moore, Head of Classical Music, Southbank Centre
Nadia Stern, Chief Executive, Rambert Dance Company
Clive Grinyer, Director, Cisco IBSG
Dick Powell, CEO and Founder of Seymourpowell, Chairman of D&AD
Ben Reason, Founding Director, Livework
Oliver King, Co-founder, Engine
Simon Gill, Executive Creative Director, LBI
John Sinclair & Matt Miller, Founders, Ustwo Studio Limited
John Mathers, CEO, Design Council
Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Craft Council
Nigel Carrington, Vice Chancellor, University of the Arts London
Professor Anthony Dunne, Head of Design Interactions, Royal College of Art
Graham Brown-Martin, Founder, Learning Without Frontiers
Michael Smith, Director, Cog Design
Andrew Chowns, CEO, Directors UK
Professor Gavin Henderson CBE, Principal, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Sue Robertson, Principal, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Mark Featherstone-Witty, CEO, The Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts
Sara Matthews, Director, Central School of Ballet
Chris Keates, General Secretary, NASUWT
Mary Bousted, General Secretary, Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Sally Hunt, General Secretary, UCU
Sue Williamson, Chief Executive, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
Jan Hodges, CEO, The Edge Foundation
Dr John Steers, Chair of Trustees, Council for Subject Associations
Annette Smith, Chief Executive, Association for Science Education
Lesley Butterworth, General Secretary, National Society for Education in Art and Design
Richard Green, Chief Executive, Design and Technology Association
Jay Osgerby, BarberOsgerby
Deyan Sudjic Director, Design Museum, London
Angus Montgomery, editor, Design Week
Gerry Leonidas, Senior Lecturer in Typography, University of Reading
Patrice Baldwin, Chair, National Drama
Dr Simon Gibbons, Chair, National Association for the Teaching of English
Pete Fraser, Chair, Media Education Association
Emma Knights, Chief Executive, National Governors’ Association
Dr Hilary Emery, Chief Executive, National Children’s Bureau
Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC
Jon Richards, National Secretary Education and Children’s Services, Unison
Toni Pearce, Vice President (Further Education), NUS
Jon Teckman, Student Voice/Phoenix Education Trust
Emma Hunt, Chair, Council for Higher Education in Art & Design (CHEAD)
John Thompson, Chair, Leacan 14+
Nigel Utton, Chair, Heading for Inclusion
Dr John Dunford, Chair, Whole Education
Dave Boston, Chief Executive, The Schools Cooperative Society
Flora Richards, Chair, Jewish Teachers Association
Peter Nutkins, Headmaster, Humphrey Perkins School (Heads for the Arts)
Peggy Farrington, Headteacher, Hanham High School (Heads for the Arts)
Mary Boyle, Principal, Knole Academy (Heads for the Arts)
Catherine McCormack, Headteacher, South Wirral High School, (Heads for the Arts)
Elaine Buchanan, Associate Headteacher, Hillview School for Girls (Heads for the Arts)
Emma Thomas, Head of Learning and Engagement, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
Samantha Lane, Co-Director of Almeida Projects, Almeida Theatre
Simon Thomsett, Chief Executive, Fairfield Halls
Donna Lynas, Director, Wysing Arts Centre
Paul Hoskins, Music Director, Rambert Dance Company
Caroline Miller, Director, Dance UK
Linda Jasper, Director, Youth Dance England
Judy Evans & Sue Trotman, Joint Chairs, National Dance Teachers Association
Ian Smallbone and Kathryn Enticott, Managing Directors, IMG Artists
Stephen Lumsden, Managing Director, Intermusica
Julian Bird, Chief Executive, Society of London Theatre & Theatrical Management Association
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive, BPI
Mark Pemberton, Chief Executive, Association of British Orchestras
Terry Luddington, CEO, British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech
Trevor Horsewood, Coordinator, The Visual Arts and Galleries Association
Tamizan Savill, Development Manager, The Association for Contemporary Jewellery
Gilane Tawadros, Chief Executive, Design and Artists Copyright Society
Janie Orr, Chief Executive, EMI Music Sound Foundation
Henry Little, CEO, Orchestras Live.
Rosemary Johnson, Executive Director, Royal Philharmonic Society
Mike Hally, Vice Chair, Radio Independents Group
Sarah Gee, Indigo-Ltd, Managing Partner
Russell Martin, Programme Manager, Artquest
Jonty Tarbuck, Deputy Director, Locus+
Dominic Mcgonigal, Chairman, C8 Associates
Zoë Jackson, Founder and Managing Director, Living the Dream
Gillian Nicol, Head of Programmes and Editor, a-n The Artists Information Company
Christine Payne, Equity, General Secretary
John Smith, General Secretary, Musicians’ Union
Paul McManus, Chief Executive, Music Industries Association
Rachel Greaves, General Secretary, Association of British Choral Directors
Scott Price, President, Music Masters and Mistresses Association
Fiona Pendreigh, Chair, National Association of Music Educators
Dr Douglas Coombes MBE, Composer and Conductor, School Music Association
Murray McLachlan, Chair, European Piano Teachers Association UK
Chris Taylor, Director, New Writing South
Neal Lawson, Chair, Compass
John Pout Head Teacher, Rainhill High School
Jay Deeble, Chair, School Music Association
