Our response to the proposed ‘Pupil and Parent Guarantee’
20 April 2010
In the Government's recent white paper
Your child, your schools, our future: building a 21st century schools system, a commitment was made to set out a number of entitlements through a Pupil and Parent Guarantee. Five ambitions have been set out for the Pupil Guarantee, including an ambition that "every pupil will go to a school where they take part in sporting and cultural activities". So is this the cultural entitlement that we're all so committed to?In the details there are a few guarantees which will have an effect on cultural learning, for instance Guarantee 3.10: That every pupil identified as gifted and talented receives written confirmation by their school of the extra challenge and support they will receive and Guarantee 3.1: Ensure teachers are appropriately qualified and receive training so that they can teach well.And there are two guarantees specifically around cultural learning:
- Guarantee 2.3: That every primary pupil should have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. Schools must ensure the teaching of musical instruments, via the "Understanding the Arts" area of the curriculum, and should follow set guidance on ensuring a good experience.
- Guarantee 4.5: That through partnerships between schools and other external providers (such as libraries, museums and performing arts organisations), every pupil should have access to high-quality cultural activities in and out-of-school, with an aspiration that, over time, this will reach five hours a week for all
- set the expectation that schools must consider what children need in order to experience meaningful engagement in cultural activity. There is a risk that if this remains something that schools should but not necessarily must do, those that already miss out will continue to do so
- be clear about every school’s obligation to provide the arts and culture via the national curriculum, whist keeping the focus on partnerships with the cultural sector
- expect Local Authorities to strategically plan for, and ensure access to, culture for children and young people