The National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD) has launched the findings of its 2015-16 survey at an All Party Parliamentary Group for Art Craft and Design Education in London.
The survey report documents findings of NSEAD’s largest survey to date carried out between 16 June to 22 July 2015 and involving 1191 teachers, lecturers and coordinators of art, craft and design.
Respondents came from a range of school sectors, phases of learning and regions in England, and were asked to consider the question: ‘In the last five years how has government policy impacted on art, craft and design education?’ The survey was sent to heads of art and design, teachers of art and design, and generic teachers covering both primary and secondary education.
The report concludes that government policies have had a detrimental impact not only on the value of the subject, but on the time and resources needed for children and young people to participate and excel in art, craft and design.
These changes, says the report, have reduced opportunities and choices to engage in a broad and balanced curriculum and could, in future, risk jeopardising and limiting the UK as a creative and competitive force in a global market.
Key findings and recommendations
The survey states that curriculum time and provision for art and design is being significantly eroded across all five key stages, with 33-44% of respondents stating that time allocated to the subjects has decreased in the last five years. The value given to art and design in schools and colleges is also impacting on choice and provision of qualifications in the subject area offered for both higher and lower ability students.
The survey also suggests that primary and secondary teachers have limited or no access to high-level subject-specific professional development in art and design. Only 25% stated they are able to attend such courses while 50% said they have to self-fund their own subject-specific CPD (continuing professional development).
Overall there has been an erosion of teachers’ wellbeing and an increase in workload, with 79% of art and design teachers reporting that their workload has increased in the last five years. The reduced profile and value of the subject has also contributed to art and design teachers leaving, or wanting to leave, the profession.
In its report recommendations, NSEAD says that schools should review the time allocated for the teaching and learning of art and design within the curriculum. It urges parents, through membership of parent teacher associations and as parent governors, to hold schools accountable for the time and resources given to art and design on the curriculum and in the professional development of staff.
NSEAD also recommends that the Department for Education should decline from stating or inferring that higher education and career opportunities will be limited by examination study in art and design, thus misrepresenting the subject to parents and young people.
Crucial time for art, craft and design
Launching the survey report, NSEAD President Ged Gast said: “Many parents believe that the curriculum is an entitlement and that their children will have a choice. This survey report comes at such a crucial time for art, craft and design education, with findings that indicate a context of increasing misunderstanding and less regard for art, craft and design education, the arts and technology.”
Sharon Hodgson MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft and Design in Education, added: “Nurturing creativity and opening the minds of our children and young people to different horizons should be an important part of any child’s or young person’s education, and the provision of high-quality art and design education is an important way of doing just that.
“That is why it is vital that art and design teachers receive the recognition and support they deserve from policy makers and the government so that they can educate future generations with the creativity, talent and skills to drive our economy in the 21st century.”
The National Society for Education in Art and Design Survey Report 2015-16. www.nsead.org
