News

• No planned change to arts provision in schools: only 7% of school leaders will increase time spent on creative subjects, despite the removal of the EBacc; over half will stay the same
• 56% of primary leaders say the burden of the curriculum limits their arts offering; 47% say reducing SATs and other statutory assessments would give more time for the arts
• A third of school leaders call for increased funding per pupil; 28% want increased ring-fenced funding for arts subjects

The government’s commitment to restoring the status of creative subjects in schools has not gone far enough, according to new research with school leaders carried out by Teacher Tapp* for the Arts and Minds Campaign. A crowded curriculum, the on-going burden of statutory assessments and accountability measures and not enough funding all mean that little to nothing will change in classrooms in the coming years.

Only 7% of school leaders intend to increase the amount of time spent on creative subjects in the next two years and only 5% intend to increase the number of extra-curricular hours. Over half (56%) will keep their arts offering the same. This is despite Bridget Phillipson’s headline plans to scrap the EBacc and offer a core enrichment entitlement for every pupil to, in her words, “restore the value of arts subjects”.

In secondary, 39% of school leaders believe “too many other curriculum priorities” prevent them from spending more time on creative subjects. Cuts to school funding and the teacher recruitment crisis also play a role: 23% cite difficulty finding specialist teachers and 13% believe lack of funding is a contributing factor.

In primary, over half of school leaders (56%) blame the burden of the curriculum, while one in four (24%) say the pressure to prepare for SATs and other statutory tests limits time spent on the arts.

It is not surprising that reducing the burden of statutory assessments was the most popular policy which would allow more time for students to study the arts – selected by 38% of all respondents and almost half (47%) of primary school leaders. The government has made no changes to SATs and other primary assessments following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, and has introduced a new assessment in secondary school counter to the review’s recommendations.

As the government begins its consultation on Progress 8 measures, a third of school leaders (33%) believe changes to accountability measures would make a difference to the provision of arts education, rising to 41% among those who say they do not currently spend enough time on creative subjects.

When it comes to funding, a third of schools leaders (33%) believe increased funding on a per pupil basis would contribute to more time spent on the arts, while 28% believe there should be increased ring-fenced funding for arts subjects.

Ed Harlow, music teacher and spokesperson for Arts and Minds comments, “The government has to back up its promises with policies which will make a real difference. Scrapping the EBacc was a step in the right direction but, for this reform to be truly effective, the government must ensure that the Progress 8 measure doesn’t pit schools against one another or prioritise one subject over another. School leaders are clear: they need time, space and, most importantly, the funding, before the status of creative subjects is fully restored.

“In primary schools, this means scrapping high-pressure SATs which narrow the curriculum to just English and maths and, in secondary, we must give schools the funding, specialist teachers and resources they need to prioritise the arts.”

Actor Jamie Kenna, who is an Arts Ambassador for the Arts and Minds Campaign, comments, “It’s all very well the government scrapping the EBacc, but unless they put in more money and resources and create more space in the curriculum, kids and young people will still be without the access to arts subjects that they want and need.”

The Arts and Minds campaign is asking the government to make five commitments to put creativity at the heart of learning:

• A right to study arts and creative subjects for all children regardless of their background.
• Restore the status of arts and creative education – now the government has scrapped the EBacc, restore parity between subjects, and give schools the trust and flexibility they need to educate.
• End the exam factory culture – end high-stakes assessments at primary school and reduce the exam burden at GCSE.
• Equip the education system to deliver the broad and balanced curriculum our communities want – increase teacher and subject specific CPD for all teachers.
• Fund the arts – restore school funding to allow schools to invest in arts education, and restore arts funding to facilitate links between the education system and the industry.

* Teacher Tapp surveyed 1,916 primary and secondary school leaders and SLT in December 2025