Published: 09 June 2021 by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre.
On Monday 7 June 2021 there was a debate in the House of Lords about arts subjects in secondary schools.
The proceedings were started by Lord Clancarty asking ‘Her Majesty’s Government what support they intend to provide for education in arts subjects in secondary schools’ to which responses were provided by Baroness Berridge.
Placing the spotlight on CDMT Validated awarding organisations offering graded examinations in dance, drama and musical theatre, Lord Aberdare moved to ask:
‘My Lords, many secondary schools can provide performing arts education only with the support of specialist external arts teaching practitioners, particularly for dance and drama. Many of these are linked to awarding organisations, validated by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre, which offer Ofqual-regulated graded examinations.
What plans do the Government have to promote the use of such specialist performing arts teaching by schools, thereby broadening their access to these highly regarded qualifications? How will the education recovery plan ensure that all schools can offer the balanced curriculum that the Government require?’
A recording of the question can be viewed here.
Lord Aberdare is the Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Performing Arts Education and Training for which CDMT is secretariat. We are delighted that Lord Clancarty has also joined the Group subsequent to Monday’s debate.
We are now in the process of following up with a letter to Baroness Berridge asking for further and deeper consideration of the important points raised by Lord Aberdare’s question.
Click here to read the full article on the CDMT website.