One Dance UK Chief Executive Andrew Hurst signs open letter signs open letter calling for arts to be put back at the heart of education

One Dance UK Chief Executive Andrew Hurst MBE signs open letter signs open letter calling for arts to be put back at the heart of education

One Dance UK Director, Andrew Hurst, has joined over 1,300 performers, educators and arts leaders in signing an open letter from the Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) calling on the government to reform the EBacc and restore the arts to the centre of the national curriculum.

Published in The Times on October 31st, the letter urges the government’s upcoming Curriculum and Assessment Review to be a turning point and an opportunity to support arts subjects by reforming the damaging accountability measures of the EBacc and Progress 8.

Among the signatories are theatre director Dame Arlene Phillips, actor Bertie Carvel, violinist Tasmin Little, artist Bob and Roberta Smith, conductor Sir Mark Elder, and many leading figures from across the creative and education sectors, including union leaders, principals of major conservatoires and chief executives from across the arts.

The letter reflects a growing movement across the cultural sector demanding urgent change. Over the past decade, the EBacc has been widely criticised for marginalising creative subjects in schools, resulting in reduced access to music, dance, drama and art for thousands of young people.

Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the ISM, said:
“Warm words on arts education are not enough. We need the government to act now to scrap the EBacc and Progress 8 so that music and the arts can thrive in our schools once again.”

Andrew Hurst, in signing the letter, joins hundreds of arts leaders including those from the London Symphony Orchestra, UK Theatre, Tara Theatre and Music Mark in standing together for a more balanced and creative curriculum that recognises the value of the arts in every child’s education.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review, led by Professor Becky Francis, is expected to publish its final report this autumn. The sector now waits to see whether the government will take this opportunity to ensure that the arts once again have a central place in our schools.