RESEARCH - Areas of Educational Research I have been reading to build wider understanding
As part of my ongoing research into arts education, the subsequent devaluation of the arts, the causes of it's ongoing issues and the importance of skills based and creative learning, I have decided to keep note of smaller articles, study and other reading material about this subject matter. Keeping note of the reading material I am looking at shows that I have been thorough with my research, as well as trying to come to well-considered conclusions about the causes, reasons and factors about arts education in secondary schools. With this in mind, I will include a list of areas I have read and made notes from with a small summary to give an idea of what lines of investigation I have been looking at.
- ARTICLE: Fresh Evidence Cites the Ebacc as a cause of decline of arts in schools - This article discusses one of the main factors in the devaluation of the arts, the Ebacc. It discusses two studies, the Durham University and Arts Council Commission and 'Centre Stage'. These studies highlight the issues within this area of the curriculum, how the Ebacc has promoted an unbalanced education system and how important building creative skills is to young people and their job prospects. The article also notes how there is a clear difference between public and private schooling in terms of arts education and how this is becoming more and more apparent.
SOURCE:
ISM. 2019. Fresh evidence cites the EBacc as cause of decline of arts in schools. [online] Available at: <https://www.ism.org/news/fresh-evidence-cite-the-ebacc-as-cause-of-decline-of-arts-in-schools> [Accessed 29 April 2021].
- ARTICLE: Bursaries and the Ebacc: art and design education debated in the House of Lords - This article documents a debate within the House of Lords about the impact of bursaries, the Ebacc and the status of art and design education in schools. There is wider discussion in this piece about providing adequate bursaries for art teachers while training, as trainee teachers in creative subjects get some of the lowest bursaries and pay out of all those in the teaching profession. Finding ways to bring good quality teachers into schools is a way of improving the education that is delivered. Also, the impact of the Ebacc is discussed and questions are raised about how it squeezes the arts out of the curriculum. It also notes that the creative industries in the UK are lucrative and therefore this area of education needs to be of more importance. However, in the current state, the Ebacc does not include any creative subject, thereby showing it's lack of value within the curriculum.
SOURCE:
NSEAD, B., 2019. Bursaries and the Ebacc - art and design education debated in the House of Lords | NSEAD. [online] Nsead.org. Available at: <https://www.nsead.org/news/news/bursaries-and-the-ebacc/> [Accessed 29 April 2021].
- ARTICLE: EXCLUSIVE: EBacc would exclude 113,000 pupils from the arts - Although this article is from 2018, and therefore the statistics provided may not be conducive in 2021, I believe this article gives an indication into the impact of a limited arts education on students that may be from deprived areas, or are not as academically gifted. It gives insight into how many students simply will not, or do not, get an arts education because of the impact of the EBacc. As the EBacc is a quality assurance measure, specifically targeted at English, maths and science, more emphasis is put onto certain subjects to raise attainment. Many of those in deprived areas are more likely to struggle academically, causing more focus to be put on they English, maths, science and the remaining subjects in the Ebacc remit rather than that of a well-rounded education that includes creativity and skills based learning. This article shows through statistics how it impacts the most deprived in society, as well as those who may struggle academically.
SOURCE:
ArtsProfessional. 2018. EXCLUSIVE: EBacc would exclude 133,000 pupils from the arts. [online] Available at: <https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/exclusive-ebacc-would-exclude-133000-pupils-arts> [Accessed 29 April 2021].
- ARTICLE: Art Teachers Confirm Dire Impact of EBacc in the Classroom - As this article is from 2016, most of the discussion about the impact the EBacc has had on the classroom was from the early stages of this measure being put in place. However, when comparing the issues of limited options, lower priority and the concept of forcing students to take subjects that they are more likely to struggle in still remain within secondary schools. I think this article gives context to the impact of the Ebacc on secondary schools, and how the arts education given to student has, and is continuing to be on the decline.
SOURCE: ArtsProfessional. 2016. Arts teachers confirm dire impact of EBacc in the classroom. [online] Available at: <https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/arts-teachers-confirm-dire-impact-ebacc-classroom> [Accessed 29 April 2021].
In light of this research, I intend to investigate further into other lines concerning the devaluation of the arts and the ways that skills based learning and creativity can be promoted.
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