APPG agendas and minutes

Minutes

The official launch of the 2023 Art Now Report

In attendance: Cheryl Stanley, Sarah Kilpatrick, Maddy Gilliam, Susan Coles, Sarah Graham, Bob and Roberta Smith, Frances Akinde, Sophie Leach, Dr Kate Noble, Marlene Wylie, Michele Gregson, Maria Herron, Kate Rosser Frost, Jane Sillis, Alistair Small, Gorm Ashurt, Adam Vincent, Ruth Sapsed, Paula Ayliffe, Jane Barnes, Paula Orrell, Earl of Clancarty, The Lord Crathorne, Lord Freyberg, Lord Hampton, Baroness Nye, Baroness Bull, Baroness Rebuck, Sharon Hodgson MP, Barbara Keeley MP.

Minutes of the meeting:

1. Welcome from Sharon Hodgson MP (chair) followed by Sharon’s reading of her introduction to the Art Now Report. The report should be seen as a road map for policy makers.
2. Bob and Roberta Smith speech: Bob (aka Patrick Brill) highlighted that the government had ‘butchered’ the Arts, with the English Baccalaureate having a pernicious effect on student choices. Talk is available here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuEoHdIoOIr/?img_index=1
3. Presentation with rationale, findings and recommendations, by Dr Kate Noble, who lead the research. Link to this here: https://www.nsead.org/files/f390916bfc129004ad8b73145db1fe75.pdf
4. Thank you from Marlene Wylie to everyone involved in the Report.
5. Thank you from Susan Coles to everyone involved in the Report and in particular to those who had given of their time willingly, despite a global pandemic occurring during the time of the evidence sessions.
6. There followed a robust discussion with many people present contributing. This included anecdotal experiences from teachers being shared, the need for joined up thinking across government departments, the need to share the Report evidence with all potential future policy makers and with the current government Department of Education.

Link to Art Now Inquiry report, 2023

Tuesday 4th July 2023. 5-7 pm

Online launch of the APPG Report ‘Art Now’ 5-6 pm
 

The online (short) session was open to all and attended mainly by external participants.

Parliamentarians in attendance: Sharon Hodgson MP, Barbara Keeley MP.

Sharon Hodgson (chair) welcomed the report and explained the reason behind it, and the hopeful impact of this influential piece of work.

Dr Kate Noble shared the report and the online participants took part in follow up discussions. Sharon’s team shared links to the online petition.

Thanks were given to the research team and to Susan Coles, by a number of attendees.

A full register of attendees can be obtained by contacting susanmcoles@gmail.com

APPG Meeting on Tuesday 21 November 2023, 17:00-19:00

Agenda

This meeting will focus on advocacy and campaigns and hearing teacher voices from the classroom

Introduction and welcome from Sharon Hodgson MP, chair of the APPG.

1. The  Creative Education Manifesto: The #ArtisEssential Creative Education Manifesto calls for cross party commitment and collaboration, and a long-term creative education and cultural plan for the UK. Presenting tonight are: Vanessa Wilson, CEO of University Alliance and Paula Orrell, National Director of CVAN (Contemporary Visual Art Network). https://cvan.art/artisessential-campaign-coalition-launch-creative-education-manifesto-calling-on-all-political-parties-to-protect-the-creative-arts-talent-pipeline/

2. National Arts in Education, Campaign, National Education Union: aims and future actions: Sarah Kilpatrick and Ed Harlow

3. Michele Gregson, General Secretary of NSEAD National Society for Education in Art and Design: NSEAD Initial Teacher Education Bursary - campaign wins and how we ensure further successes.

4. Sharon Hodgson MP: follow up to the Art Now Report with actions including template letter to MP, online petition, discussions with Parliamentarians.  

5. Tales from the classroom: Art teachers sharing their stories of the impact of Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete issues (RAAC) on their three art departments. Speaking in this order: Rosa Hackett, Jessica Austin Burdett, and Liz Thompson.

6. AOB and date of next meeting.

For the Zoom link please email: info@nsead.org

Minutes

To be published

Agenda

Our focus will be future curriculum needs and visions for the future in Art, Craft, Design Education, and beyond.

Introduction and welcome from Sharon Hodgson MP, chair of the APPG.

1. Lord David Blunkett will summarise the Labour Party Learning and Skills Report published in October 2022, and open this to discussion with parliamentary attendees and members of the visual arts community who attend. https://labour.org.uk/skillsreport/

2. Daniel Carpenter, Executive Director of the Heritage Crafts Association will talk about the pathways into the Heritage Crafts and the need for these to happen.  

3. Joe Hallgarten, CEO of the Centre for Education and Youth, will speak about improving and transforming arts learning for young people.

4. Caroline Smith, Children and Young People’s Leadership Manager at The National Gallery, is sharing research on the impact of ‘Take One Picture’ on teachers’ skills and confidence in teaching art and on children’s skills and confidence in art, literacy and non-cognitive skills as well as the development of cultural capital.

5. #ARTNOW: Brief update on report progress and possible timeline for sharing.             

Short advocacy film from NSEAD to share.

6. AOB and date of next meeting.

Meeting Tuesday 24th May 5-7 pm

Minutes

Our focus was #ARTNOW, an update of the state of visual Art education  across the 4 nations of the United Kingdom, based on research, reports, and using the 2022 Art Now APPG survey headlines.

Introduction from Vice Chair Earl of Clancarty (Nicholas Trench), with a welcome to newly elected officers of the APPG. Co-chairs are Sharon Hodgson MP and Nick Trench. Vice chairs are Baroness Debbie Wilcox, Baroness Christine Blower, Lord Vaizey, Lord Cormack, Baroness Sue Nye, Dawn Butler MP, Rupa Haq MP.

1. Lead HMI Oftsed Inspector for OFSTED, Jennifer Gibbs has    postponed her talk until a later date. Apology sent.

2. ART NOW: the picture from Scotland, (where education is devolved):   Dr Anna Robb, Lecturer in Education at University of Dundee. Anna referenced creative learning networks and the 2013 Creative Learning Plan and partners involved. In 2019 the focus was creativity and learning, creativity and employability. In 2021 and 2022 a new Action Plan was created. The key point being that ambitious changes are still needed. Research is sparse over last decade. The 2022 report from engage Scotland and Queen Margaret’s University Mapping Contemporary Visual Art and Design Education in Scotland and its key finding being that the subject is undervalued. Young people and parents and teachers should develop a more positive image of careers within the creative industries. Report link: https://engage.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Engage-REPORT-1.pdf . A key positive is for schools and creative arts networks to work together, however more needs to be done to create deeper understanding from school leaders. Patchy Arts provision in primary schools needs to be addressed and research is needed.

3. Unable to access a speaker from Wales so, a replacement was to share a short video animation outlining the re-modelled Welsh Curriculum in Wales. A short discussion followed in which it was shared that the curriculum launch has been delayed                      by the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic. The ambitious Welsh curriculum requires investment in teacher professional development to support the curriculum. 

4. Headlines from the 2022 APPG 4 nations ART NOW survey. Progress on the final results and next steps on the reports from evidence sessions conducted in 2020-22. APPG research team, led by Professor Pat Thomson. Susan Coles outlined why we set out to develop the #ARTNOW evidence sessions and report. Susan read out Sharon’s introduction to the report (see papers/presentations) before handing over to Pat Thomson. The handout sheet (embargoed) was shared and is available in papers/presentations. The headlines are to be shared because survey has fed a lot of information and the evidence sessions, organised by Susan, have been extensive and need to be part of the report. The current White Paper from DFE wants to focus on initial teacher training and professional development. The survey results reflected a very good cross section of the art education workforce across all 4 nations. Wellbeing and increased workload came up as major issues.  Sophie Leach NSEAD then shared some recommendations suggested so far. Michele Gregson also contributed to the key issues, teachers leaving or intending to leave the profession, asking policy makers to ‘know our subject’ through a subject survey, subject specific CPD, impact of Covid on materials and spaces for art, workload and wellbeing, local context required rather than an ‘off the shelf’ curriculum models. Sophie added points about workload, a review od Covid10 impact is needed across all subjects.

5. Bridget Phillipson MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education,  response to item 4 from the Labour party policy point of view. Bridget said that the government has missed understanding of what its like to grow up as a child in Britain today. Children must be at the centre of education, now and shaping future societies. We should see individuals as multi-dimensional. We must replicate more of what we do in early years and retain breadth of curriculum as children go through school. She shares concerns about workload, and development of professional development of teachers. Greater clarity is needed from the government about curriculum vision, especially the so called national curriculum. The impact of Covid 19 has to be a major focus and currently isn’t. The report is going to shine a light on the state of art craft and design in education.

6. General Q and A and discussion with ACTIONS  and NEXT STEPS for the APPG Art Craft Design in Education. Pat Thomson outlined how the report can use statistics, other research evidence and the very powerful comments made by individuals in the survey responses. Support promised from a number of speakers for disseminating the report findings. ‘We have to make a noise’.

7. AOB and date of next meeting. No AOB. No date yet for next meeting.

Agenda

Our focus will be #ARTNOW, an update of the state of visual Art education across the four nations of the United Kingdom, based on research, reports, and with the 2022 Art Now APPG survey headlines.

Introduction from Vice Chair Earl of Clancarty (Nicholas Trench), with a welcome to newly elected officers of the APPG (names tbc).

1. Lead HMI Oftsed Inspector for OFSTED, Jennifer Gibbs will share a summary of the 'Curriculum Research Review: Art and Design England'.

2. Headlines from the 2022 APPG four nations ART NOW survey. Progress on the final results and next steps on the reports from evidence sessions conducted in 2020-22. APPG research team, led by Professor Pat Thomson.

3. Bridget Phillipson MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education: response to item 2 from the Labour party policy point of view.

4. ART NOW: the picture from Scotland, (where education is devolved): Dr Anna Robb, Lecturer in Education at University of Dundee.

5. ART NOW: New Welsh curriculum and the place of visual art education in schools and beyond. (speaker tbc).

6. General Q and A and discussion with ACTIONS and NEXT STEPS for the APPG Art Craft Design in Education.

7. AOB and date of next meeting.

Meeting online (Zoom platform) Tuesday 8th February 2022. 5-7 pm                                 

Agenda

Questions and discussion will take place between agenda items.      

Sharon Hodgson MP and Chair, will welcome speakers and participants.                                                          (Participants to use CHAT for introductions) 

1. Item postponed from last meeting (02/11/2022): Dr Emese Hall, Senior lecturer in Art Education, University of Exeter, will update us on developments in Initial Teacher Education in Art, Craft and Design and also on market review and bursaries.                                                               David Spendlove Professor of Education, University of Manchester, will summarise his recent blog 'Initial teacher education/training – welcome to ITT Squid Game where he draws parallels between the Department for Education's plans for initial teacher training and the gruesome Netflix show.
2. Michele Gregson, General Secretary of NSEAD National Society for Education in Art and Design, will talk about disproportionate impact of lockdown and home learning for Art Craft and Design.
3. Professor Pat Thomson,University of Nottingham, will summarise where the APPG research group are with reports from evidence sessions, and share news of a 4 nations national survey to be launched in the next month, which will give a clear picture of the 'state of art education' across the UK.
4. Lisa Alberti, College Lead PincCollege, (Art and Design studies for Neurodiverse young people). Lisa will talk aboutSpecialist Colleges for creative education in the UK, focusing on creative study programme pathways for 16-25 year olds. https://pinccollege.co.uk/home/
5. Advancing Anti-ableist Pedagogy (AaP) in Art, Craft and Design Education Introduction by Claire Penketh (Associate Professor and Core member of CCDS - Liverpool Hope University) with Dr Sandra Hiett(PGCE Art and Design, Liverpool Hope University), Paul Morrow, Lead Practitioner: Westminster Special Schools, classroom teacher Clare Boreham. This session offers a brief introduction to the AaP Special Interest Group (SIG) run as a joint venture by NSEAD and the Centre for Culture and Disability Studies at Liverpool Hope University. An anti-ableist pedagogy is one that actively resists taken for granted assumptions about ability and disability, enabling us to engage with the politics of disablement through education in art, craft and design. 
6. AOB/Date of next meeting : Tuesday 24th May 2022 5-7 pm.

This meeting was recorded purely for record keeping and will not be shared on a public platform.

Minutes

Meeting online (Zoom platform) Tuesday 8th February 2022. 5-7 pm

Introductions by the chair. Sarah Graham, who was attending the group for the first time, introduced herself to the group. Sarah is a practicing artist and interested in how art education is being impacted by current policy in England.

1.Dr Emese Hall, Senior lecturer in Art Education, University of Exeter on developments in ITT and the ITT Market Review

Emese examined the ITT market review and how it to be trying to fix something that is not necessarily broken. The review aims to ensure high quality training, however, it also involves mandatory adherence to the Core Content Framework (CCF) [1], which is contentious and there are questions about the evidence it is based on. The Market Review has a strong focus on ‘core’ subjects. There is an emphasis on mentoring and an expanded Ofsted role, teaching school hubs and providers are encouraged to ‘buddy up’. It continues a shift of ITE into schools and away from universities. All providers have also been asked to apply for reaccreditation.

Various organisations have expressed concerns about the review. The Chartered College of Teaching said that it is too early to be carrying out this review as the Early Career Framework (ECF) is not yet embedded. UCET (Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers) collated evidence from various organisations expressing concern, which included NSEADs input. NSEAD highlight that the Review does not acknowledge the complexity of Art and Design Education. They are concerned about shorter intensive placements and whether the range of subjects can be covered in this time. There is also a concern that generic mentors do not have the skills to support ACD trainees.

Emese handed over to Professor David Spendlove.

David Spendlove, Professor of Education, University of Manchester, on recent developments in ITT Market Review

David’s article compares the process of reaccreditation following the Market Review to the Squid Games. Providers have been required to submit an application to demonstrate how they meet the DfE requirements, the first round of these applications was recently.

David criticised the Review’s disproportionate focus on Cognitive Science, which excludes other ways that children learn. There have also been concerns around impartiality in its development. A new ‘Institute for Teaching’ will be created which will have awarding powers, bypassing universities. Partnerships will be based on finance, not pedagogy or the welfare of the trainee. In the accreditation process, Ofsted will be responsible for judging applications but will not be referring to other information they may have about the provider.

David stressed that this follows 10 years of marginalising universities in teacher education. Providers have been put in a difficult situation.

Nick Trench, Earl of Clancarty, asked whether Oxford and Cambridge have still decided to not apply. David said that there were two application dates and some providers have held-off applying until the second, potentially whilst negotiating with DfE.

Baroness Christine Blower asked about the OECD’s emphasis on collaboration with pupils and how it seems like teachers will not be supported to do these things through the CCF and this will not attract new teachers into the profession. Emese agreed, there is a narrow focus in the CCF. Worryingly, some new providers might be using only the CCF as the basis of their training.

2. Michele Gregson, General Secretary of NSEAD National Society for Education in Art and Design, the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on ACD.

Michele detailed the growing evidence of school closures and home learning on ACD. The priority of focus research has been on the ‘core subjects’, meaning that there is less evidence beyond them.

However, we know that ACD are hard to translate into online learning and they are reliant on specialist spaces. ONS data suggests that Arts were more effected than other subjects with less of the curriculum being delivered [2]. Research has found that core catch-up has been prioritised over a Recovery Curriculum. Heads are worried that teachers are deskilling and becoming demotivated [3]. Inequality has increased and the disadvantaged have been more impacted.

We are entering a new era and there is concern around what will be prioritised.

Professor Pat Thomson, University of Nottingham, update from the Research Group

Pat updated the group on the development of a report on behalf of the APPG. The report will detail what ACD education should look like, this will be in relation to the current situation. For the report, a teacher survey has been developed for the four nations, which is ready to go now. Some results from this survey will be comparable to the NSEAD 2015/16 survey. There will also be four focus groups across the four nations and DfE and exam board data will be reviewed. The group want to have a robust and secure evidence base. A title for the report has not yet been confirmed. There will be one more evidence session, which will look at routes out of education, including A Level, Foundation and FE.

Sophie Leach also updated the group on resources from the Research Group available now on the NSEAD website.

Emese asked a question about funding. Pat confirmed that the RER was funded by the University of Nottingham. The Research Group currently had a student on a six-month placement which is funded by the AHRC. The Group has no further funding.

John Steers asked about the four nations, as this group has primarily focused on England. The focus groups will take place in each of the four nations.

5.Lisa Alberti, College Lead PincCollege, (Art and Design studies for Neurodiverse young people). Specialist Colleges for creative education in the UKPincCollege is a post-16 specialist college which has inclusive pathways for young people with additional needs. There is a focus on learning outside of school and the college takes an asset-based approach. The colleges are based in studios around the country and use the cultural offer that is locally available. They partner with museums and galleries.

This partnership work adds depth to the learning experiences of the young people. The aim is to give the young people the same experiences as their peers. The focus is currently on art and the results are good.

Lisa has found that galleries are shifting their working models at the moment, creating opportunities for this kind of partnership work.

The College is looking to expand further. It is currently small and these small numbers make it difficult to attract funders.

6. Advancing Anti-ableist Pedagogy (AaP) in Art, Craft and Design Education Introduction by Claire Penketh (Associate Professor and Core member of CCDS - Liverpool Hope University) with Dr Sandra Hiett (PGCE Art and Design, Liverpool Hope University), Paul Morrow, Lead Practitioner: Westminster Special Schools, Claire Boreham classroom practitioner who was unable to attend

Claire introduced the work of the SIG, which is working with NSEAD. She highlighted that there is still significant discrimination and hate crime directed towards people with disabilities. ACD is a powerful way to engage with ideas around inequality and address these issues. To do this, we need to think beyond ‘need’. An Anti-ableist pedagogy will start by reflecting and identifying preferences for and assumptions of an able body, design changes to tackle these and then reflect and disseminate what has happened.

So far there has been a number of SIG meetings. There are further meetings coming up and a takeover of the AD journal, as well as examples of practice on the NSEAD website.

Sandra Hiett then contrasted the medical model of SEND, which the Teacher Standards [4] use (particular T5), in this version you might respond to needs of individuals. The alternative to this is the social model, ‘Universal Design for Learning’.  Sandra uses this in the ITE, often teachers are not prepared by their placements to do this.

Paul Morrow noted that organisations have a requirement to actively advance equality of opportunity between people who have and do not have protected characteristics.

Contemporary art practice includes artists who identify as disabled. He argued for a range of artists being included in the canon, not just the ‘great artists’. In contemporary art practice the many different narratives offered are also helpful. This allows for different ways of experiencing art.

The group hope to offer practical guidance on how this work could support education.

Susan Coles raised that it is sad that Sandra mentioned compliance when sending children into school. Paul said that they were offering an alternative way round of doing things, rather than oppositional. Sandra highlighted that the rhetoric around research-informed teaching has allowed for the bringing in of other perspectives and criticality, it might put her in a difficult position of criticising what is seen as ‘good practice’ in placement schools.

7. The next meeting will take place on 24th May, 5pm-7pm.

1. Department for Education, Initial teacher training (ITT): core content framework. 2019, Department for Education.

2. ONS, Remote schooling through the coronavirus  (COVID-19) pandemic, England: April 2020 to   June 2021. 2021, Office for National Statistics.

3. Nelson, J., S. Lynch, and C. Sharp, Recovery during a pandemic: the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 on schools serving deprived communities. 2021, NFER: Slough.

4. Department for Education, Teachers’ Standards. Guidance for school leaders, school staff and governing bodies. 2021, Department for Education.

Meeting online (Zoom platform) Tuesday 2nd November 2021. 5-7 pm Agenda

Questions and discussion will take place between agenda items.

Our main session focus is advocacy and campaigning, especially in the current climate of a global pandemic.

Sharon Hodgson MP and Chair, welcome (Participants to use CHAT for introductions)

1. A Call for Spaces of Liberated Learning Part 1: Sharing of work by Gabby Arenge, Emily Dowdeswell and Ruth Sapsed from Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination, Dr Penny Hay from Bath Spa University and House of Imagination, and Dr Esther Sayers from Goldsmiths University. The call is a response to work championed by artists, educators, researchers and activists over the past twenty years. This reading will invite members to reflect on ‘spaces for liberated learning’. 10 minutes

2. Emese Hall, Vice President of NSEAD, will update us on developments in Initial Teacher Education in Art, Craft and Design: on market review and bursaries. 15 minutes

3. Paula Orrell, National Director, England Contemporary Visual Art Network, will update us on the impact of the Higher Education subsidy cut and devaluing of our subject by the former Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson. 10 minutes

4. Wes Streeting MP, and Alison McGovern MP, on the importance of the Arts in education and how the Labour Party will support this in both policy and campaigning 20 minutes including questions

5. Linda Kasmaty chair of Save Swindon Museum and Art gallery group, SMAG, and their campaign to make a public collections accessible to the public. 10 minutes

6. We will have a brief introduction to Festival UK* 2022 which is a major showcase of creativity taking place across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in 2022. It will feature 10 large-scale, public engagement commissions designed by hundreds of creatives from the science, technology, engineering, arts and maths sectors and aims to reach millions of people around the world through physical events, its learning and participation programme and digital channels. 15 minutes

7. A Call for Spaces of Liberated Learning Part 2: A return to the call offered at the start of the meeting. Reading of the poem “Cracks, otherwise known as Pavlova”, created by Sarah Huxley during a Liberated Learning workshop. Followed by discussion chaired by Esther Sayers, where members will share the words, phrases or connections that have most resonated during the meeting. 15 minutes

8. Ged Gast, NSEAD, and Education consultant: Looking at comparative salaries as a teacher and art and design graduate, implications for falling exam course numbers and a question about whether government creative arts data looks at design industries as well as arts industries when analysing salaries. 10 minutes

9. Date of next meeting. Tuesday 8th February 5-7 p.m.

Click here for a word.doc of the minutes.

Meeting online (Zoom platform) Tuesday 22nd June 2021. 5-7 pm

Agenda

Questions and discussion will take place between agenda items.

Our main session focus is the sharing of current initiatives and campaigns around art education and the work of the APPG. 

1.     Sharon Hodgson MP and Chair, welcome                                                        (Participants to use CHAT for introductions)

2.     Minutes from last meeting to be approved. (Attached)

3.   The NSEAD Anti-Racist Art Education Action (ARAEA) Group was set up in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd. The Group have published three Anti-Racist Art Education Checklists that aim to support conversations around anti-racism, to help promote racial tolerance and equity. The ARAEA Group challenge all art educators to be actively anti-racist to ensure the injustices brought about through racism are removed. The ARAEA Group members presenting:  Marlene Wylie (Vice-President NSEAD and Creative Education Consultant), Clare Stanhope (Head of Art & Design and Researcher), and Sophie Leach, (Deputy General Secretary NSEAD).

4.     Kingston University has just produced a report with YouGov Business on UK skills priorities, which was officially launched this month. Based on interviews with major businesses including the likes of Deloitte, Mastercard and Lidl and a poll of 2,000 UK employers, the report reveals an urgent need to promote creative problem-solving skills to meet a threat to UK competitiveness from emerging economies. Steven Spier, Vice-Chancellorof Kingston University, will share the findings and potential policy implications. Link to report: https://tinyurl.com/ybnhyx3h

5.     Sandra Booth CHEAD (Council for Higher Education in Art and Design) Director of Policy, who will update us about the campaign #ArtIsEssential. ‘The arts and culture sector contributes £2.8 billion a year to the Treasury via taxation to the UK economy, and provides 363,700 jobs, but recent events have exposed the delicate ecology of the sector leaving it vulnerable. We need to ensure that policy and decision makers are considering the real needs of our sector and sees the far reaching impact the visual arts has in our communities and the contribution it makes to our economy. This campaign has been set up to unite us as one voice.  As a sector, we need to come together to be visible throughout 2021 and the run-up to the Government Comprehensive Spending Review to demonstrate that #ArtIsEssential’.

https://www.artisessential.art/about

Sharon Hodgson MP, APPG chair, letter to Gavin Williamson: https://www.nsead.org/files/843cd27bb615fe24c5abe39432f45519.pdf

5.     Professor Samantha Broadhead (University of the Arts Leeds) and Professor Pat Thomson (University of Nottingham) will update on progress of the APPG research group, and future plans. 

6.    Professor Pat Thomson will present the work that she shared at the 2021 iJADE (International Journal of Art and Design Education) Conference. This work (with Liam Maloy) was a Rapid Evidence Review into the benefits of Art, Craft and Design (AC&D) education in schools. The review also addressed the nature, status and sustainability of AC&D education in the face of changes to the national curriculum, accountability measures, online learning and austerity. 

7.    NSEAD updates and current work and projects, Michele Gregson, General Secretary of NSEAD.

8.    AOB and date of next meeting.

Click here for a word.doc version of the agenda.

Click here for a word .doc version of the minutes.

Meeting online (Zoom platform) Tuesday 2nd March 2021. 5-7 pm

Minutes

Our main session focus was the benefit of art education, within both  prison settings, and beyond, in recovery/rehabilitation.

1.     Sharon Hodgson MP and Chair began the meeting by asking participants to introduce themselves in the chat area. This will serve as a register of attendance.  

2.     Minutes from last meeting to be approved. The minutes of the previous meeting (sent with the agenda) were approved and will go into the records.  

3.     Updates from around the UK, Art Craft Design education; Michele Gregson, General Secretary NSEAD. Michele updated the meeting with the more recent activity of NSEAD.

4.     Unlock the Talent Inside; Sally Taylor Chief Executive of Koestler Arts www.koestlerarts.org.uk talked extensively about the work that the organisation does promoting engagement with art in prisons and as part of prisoners rehabilitation. Sally's visual and detailed slideshow was illustrated with the rich and diverse range of art forms created by those in prison and those in rehabilitation. The presentation can be seen in the papers supporting the meeting. There was a great deal of discussion around how the pandemic had changed prisoner access to the arts and the long term on the short term impact that this may have. However the organisation has worked very hard two still showcase and share visual art and craft work.  

5.     From the inside; Professor Samantha Broadhead (University of the Arts Leeds) shared her own experiences from teaching art in prisons. Sam's presentation included firsthand knowledge of the situation that many prisoners find themselves in within the penal system, the physical and the emotional.                                                                         Writer Mim Skinner and author of the book Jailbirds amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GYM1JNM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1  Mim taught therapeutic and self-expressive arts in one women's and two men's prisons. She shared the story of how she used art, music, and writing to engage those at the edge of the prison system with the aim of connecting people into further education, training and rehabilitation. This experience also inspired her as a writer to share this in book form. Sadly, funding for this is no longer available and the work has been discontinued.  

6.     Ruth Williams, Watts Art Gallery talked about the ongoing work between the Watts Gallery Trust Museum Outreach to Vulnerable, at risk and Young Offenders in the Criminal Justice System through onsite, virtual and prison delivery.  Many benefits ensued, including; Bronze Arts Award, Social Enterprise, self esteem, transferable life skills, communication, participation, sustained engagement, and personal creative exploration. Advice for next steps in Education/Art Education is given. Support to enter Koestler Awards and learn about future support is part of the programme. Communication with family and friends to view Exhibition and visit the Gallery on release is also developed.

7.     Ten years of the NSEAD AD Magazine: a whirlwind tour of the first decade of NSEAD’s flagship publication on visual art education. Sophie Leach, Assistant General Secretary of NSEAD gave an exciting visually rich packed timeline presentation of AD magazine over the last decade linking this to political activity which has had impact on visual art education, particularly in England. The consensus of participants was that this curated collation should be shared more widely then just this meeting. Such a lot has happened over 11 years and the magazine strives to both promote and defend visual art education including news, stories and evidence from this APPG group. The presentation can be downloaded here.

8.     Brief report on progress of APPG Research group. Research group team. Susan Coles and Pat Thompson reported briefly on the work of the small research group who are attempting to follow up the evidence session of November 2020 with a cohesive report. A meeting of the steering group was held prior to this meeting today.  

9. AOB and date of next meeting. Tuesday June 22nd 5-7 p.m.

Click here for a word.doc of the agenda of the meeting.

Click here for a word.doc of the minutes of the meeting.

1. Welcome. Sharon Hodgson MP.  

2. Report from first APPG evidence session, quick summary and next steps. Jack Mayorcas and Susan Coles.  

3. Summary of NSEAD's activities since the last meeting in June. Michele Gregson, General Secretary.  

4. ITE Bursary Letter to Mr Gibb. Dr Rachel Payne, President of NSEAD.  

5. Trainee teachers, Lucy and Lee, from the University of Staffordshire PGCE Art and Design course, will talk about the importance of the 2020 bursary (which the Department for Education will not be continuing in 2021). Introduced by their course leader and member of NSEAD Council, Katie Leonard.  

6. Ben Cooper, author of the Fabian Report ‘Cultured Communities’ the crisis in funding for local communities in Arts and Culture will discuss key points from this.  

7. ‘Drawing for Learning in Anatomy, why visual and tactile literacy is important in the STEM subjects in Higher Education’. Dr Fay Penrose, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Anatomy, University of Liverpool.  

8. Prof José Chambers, Development Fellow, Comino Foundation and supporter of the APPG, will introduce an established model of working in which digital design graduates from Manchester Metropolitan University undertake short internships with Greater Manchester schools, with cultural institutions as partners.  We will meet Dr Melanie Miller, programme leader, and teachers and designers from two recent projects:     Abraham Moss Community School - Manchester, with Manchester Art Gallery as cultural partner, Leonnie Burns- teacher; Rebecca Burns – designer. "Our Cheetham Hill community - a human rights perspective".     Ladybridge High School, Bolton, with Manchester Science Industry Museum as cultural partner  Joy Helliwell - teacher; Tom Cockerham – designer. "Bygone Bolton- a digital 3D design project."  

9. Date and time of next meeting.

10. AOB. 

Click here for Word version of the Minutes.  All papers mentioned in the minutes can be found here

Click here for meeting register

Agenda

Meeting focus/theme: Discussion and sharing of how teaching and learning has needed to change rapidly due to Coronavirus. We will also look at APPG plans for the near and distant future, and a hold a discussion on the vision for the direction of the APPG, post-pandemic.

1. Welcome. Sharon Hodgson MP
2. Zoom protocol reminders. Susan Coles, NSEAD
3. Summary of NSEAD's activities since 'lockdown' and plans for Conference etc. Michele Gregson, Sophie Leach, general Secretary and assistant General Secretary NSEAD
4. Examination changes 2020, a summary from Liz MacFarlane, President elect, NSEAD
5. The teacher’s point of view: what lockdown has meant for them in primary, secondary and tertiary phases of education. Ruth Robinson Lead Teacher and Leader of Learning: Arts, English & Business at Durham 6th Form , Jessica Austin Burdett, Head of Art, Design and Technology at a secondary school in London, and a primary teacher (no name yet)
6. Wellbeing issues, young people and art educators, around Covid 19. The NSEAD Special Interest Group, led by Marlene Wylie Vice President
7. Group discussion chaired by Sharon Hodgson. The future focus and work of the APPG, based on previous discussions held at the AGM in 2020, and the previous meeting in February. Suggestions summed up and shared. Jack Mayorcas and Susan Coles will sum up previous discussions
8. Next meeting- time and date and platform
9. AOB

click here for Word version

Minutes

Meeting focus/theme: Please note that this is an informal meeting. A decision was made to focus on discussion and sharing of how teaching and learning has had to change rapidly due to Coronavirus. We also looked at plans for the near and distant future, and a held a discussion on the vision for the direction of the APPG, post-pandemic (whenever that may be).

1. Welcome. Sharon Hodgson MP.
2. Zoom protocol reminders. Susan Coles, NSEAD.
3. Summary of NSEAD's activities since 'lockdown' and plans for Conference etc. Michele Gregson reminded us all that the question about the future of education has been raised by the way teachers and their students have worked during lockdown. Teachers had bravely steeped up to the new landscape. NSEAD will continue to monitor developments in art education and support members throughout these times. The NSEAD 2020 Conference will be an online event and people were encouraged to sign up for the talks, presentations and discussions. A copy of the summary is available here; LINK
4. Examination changes 2020, a summary from Liz MacFarlane, President elect, NSEAD. NSEAD have liased with OFQAL around the issue of GCSE and A level ‘exams’ in our subject and had responded in detail to consultation requests. Equality of opportunity for the subject is a major factor in these. A copy of the responses to the consultation can be seen here; LINK
5. The teacher’s point of view: what lockdown has meant for them in primary, secondary and tertiary phases of education. Ruth Robinson Lead Teacher and Leader of Learning: Arts, English & Business at Durham 6th Form , Jessica Austin Burdett, Head of Art, Design and Technology at John Cass school in London. Ruth shared her department’s ways of working remotely and, in particular, through the use of the Google classroom platform, and talked about the need to support the well being of young people during a stressful time in their lives. She believes it is important to focus on the ‘highs’ as well as acknowledge the ‘lows’. Jessica concurred with this and talked about how the social divide between those with access to technology and those without (for home learning) had been tackled at her school, through distributing learning packs etc. Her team had seen the need to revisit their core purpose for art education, which was empowering for them all. 
6. Wellbeing issues, young people and art educators, around Covid 19. The NSEAD Special Interest Group on Wellbeing, Marlene Wylie Vice President NSEAD, Amanda Skilton (teacher) and Bradley Hodgson (teacher) shared their concerns for the wellbeing of both learners and teachers in the current lockdown and pandemic situation and how to recognise and be open about these. Amanda referred participants to the excellent work that had been done by the creators of the international Recovery Curriculum, by the Anna Freud Centre and the Young Minds websites, to support teachers and learners (and their parents). The SIG are working together to create supporting resources for key stakeholders in art education, to create signposts and add downloadable well-being resources to the website to support NSEAD members. There is an article appearing in the next AD Magazine and plans for a webinar focussed on the issues.
7. Group discussion chaired by Sharon Hodgson. The future focus and work of the APPG, based on previous discussions held at the AGM in 2020, and the previous meeting in February was shared by Jack Mayorcas and Susan Coles. The idea is to use specific foci for evidence based sessions to produce summative reports which will help in lobbying for the subject in parliament and which will show more of an ‘outcome’ for the APPG. 
8. Next meeting- time and date and platform. An official (online)meeting of the APPG is planned for November. Date tbc.
9. AOB.

Click here for Word version

Click here for meeting register

Tuesday 25th February 2020

Agenda

Meeting focus/theme: The achievements, impact and purpose of the APPG since its first meeting in March 2013 and open discussion on both short and long term plans for future work. 

1. Welcome from Chair, Sharon Hodgson MP, and introductions.

2. Report from the ‘plan B’ meeting held at Chelsea College of Art on November 12th 2019, during Parliamentary purdah. NSEAD team.

3. Seven years of the APPG: how it all began and why. Sharon Hodgson and Susan Coles. Followed by a summary of some of the campaigns and successes, Michele Gregson NSEAD.

4. How the APPG meeting in May 2018 influenced the INSPIRE project at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Kate Noble, Education Officer at the Museum, Sheila Ceccarelli, co-director AccessArt.

5. Report from the 22nd January AGM. Sharon Hodgson and Jack Mayorcas to outline suggestions made by the newly elected Parliamentary officers of this group, for future work and focus. Michelle Gregson (General Secretary NSEAD) to share the NSEAD 2019 Manifesto headings. Whole group discussion to follow. 

6. The impact of the recent parliamentary vote on the Erasmus scheme. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-47293927

(Erasmus+ is an EU scheme that currently offers opportunities for UK citizens to study, work, volunteer, teach and train abroad in Europe and offers access to funding for adult education). Earl Clancarty.

25 February 2020 can be viewed here

Meeting focus/theme: The achievements, impact and purpose of the APPG since its first meeting in March 2013 and open discussion on both short- and long-term plans for future work. 

Attendees:

Liz Bainbridge    Trinity School

Mandy Barrett    Gomersal Primary School

Samantha Broadhead    Leeds Arts University

Sheila Ceccarelli    AccessArt

Jose Chambers    Comino Foundation

Susan M Coles    NSEAD

Simon Columb    NSEAD 

Nick Corston    SteamCo

Pippa Couch    YSP Learning

Oliver Cubbin    Student

Stephanie Cubbin    St Marylebone Teaching School

Ged Gast    NSEAD

Karl Goodere-Dale    OCR

Peter Gregory    NSEAD

Mike Hill MP    Member of Parliament Hartlepool

Trevor Horsewood    Association for Art History

Amanda McMahon    Baltic Centre Contemporary Art Learning 

Imran Mirza    The Parasol project

Tabitha Neal    Beluve School

Kate Noble    Fitzwilliam Museum

Rachel Payne    NSEAD 

Gregory Perry    Association for Art History

Ruth Sapsed    Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination

Caroline Smith    National Gallery

Clare Stanhope    Harris Girls School

John Steers    HEAD

Ian Thompson    University of the Arts London

Lucy Williams    Freelance

Sarah Willis    Fitzwilliam Museum

1. Welcome from Chair, Sharon Hodgson MP, and introductions.

2. Report from the ‘plan B’ meeting held at Chelsea College of Art on November 12th, 2019, during Parliamentary purdah. When the 2019 election was called, and the planned November APPG could not take place, we decided to run a ‘plan B’ meeting around the issue of teacher wellbeing, this was held at Chelsea College of Art and chaired by Earl Clancarty. As it wasn’t an official APPG session, there are no formal minutes. The meeting began with an introduction from Nigel Carrington text of which is available here; LINK. There were excellent presentations by both Freya Clarke and Jessica Whitely current and recent trainee art teachers on keeping work life balance around their training and being motivated by their desire to be art teachers despite not having any financial support form a DFE bursary/ Anne Louise Quinton and Jessica Austin Burdett gave very honest talks about how changes in the educational landscape since 2010 had impacted on their professional lives and status and what steps they had taken to deal with these. Two generations of art teachers, Amanda Duke (mother) and Katie Duke (daughter and current PGCE student) shared their very positive thoughts about why art education was at the centre of their lives. Their advice to be part of a team which creates an ethos and culture was much appreciated. Rachel Payne shared the good news of a student bursary for trainee art teachers which would start in September 2020. This is seen as a breakthrough for NSEAD and its campaigning Special Interest Group on Initial Teacher Education. There were updates on NSEAD’s current work and updates from Susan Coles on the future of the APPG, post-election. 

3. Seven years of the APPG: how it all began and why. Sharon Hodgson and Susan Coles. Susan and Sharon contextualised how the APPG began and why Sharon wanted to create this group and has supported it’s work and advocacy for the subject work ever since. The group began in 2012 after Susan contacted Sharon as a constituent to share concerns about the Coalition government educational policies which were impacting on Arts education, in particular the introduction of the EBacc set of subjects. Since then, we have seen 3 Prime Ministers, five Secretaries of Ste for Education, and one Minister for School Standards (Nick Gibb MP). Throughout this time the group has been an active and campaigning presence in Parliament. NSEAD acts as secretariat for the APPG and Susan is the secretary. Sharon also thanked vice chairs Tracy Brabin MP and Earl Clancarty for their continued support. This was followed by a summary of some of the campaigns and successes, shared by NSEAD President Rachel Payne with the full text (written by Sophie Leach, NSEAD) available here at https://www.nsead.org/files/222cdd4e8bfd273bd75d82c7349c9250.pdf

4. How the APPG meeting in May 2018 influenced the INSPIRE project at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Kate Noble, Education Officer at the Museum, Sheila Ceccarelli, co-director AccessArt. The APPG, held in May 2018, had a focus on the professional development of teachers, including the sharing of the report from the Wellcome Trust on CPD for teachers where Nan Davies, professional development programme lead at the Wellcome Trust, said that the time given to teachers’ CPD in England does not compare favourably to other OECD nations. Ensuring that teachers have access to and regularly participate in high-quality professional development must continue to be a priority for policymakers, especially as a subject specialist or art subject leader in primary school. On the train back to Cambridge that day, Sheila and Kate had a conversation, which led to the Inspire Project. 68 teachers from state schools came from across Cambridgeshire to one of four free CPD sessions, over 500 children visited the exhibition at the Museum and the impact on schools has been significant with 32 schools from across the county taking part, and with 3874 pupils making artwork as a response to the painting ‘The Story of Cupid and Psyche’ by Jacopo del Sellaio. Full story here; https://www.accessart.org.uk/inspire-2020/A copy of their APPG presentation is available here; LINK

5. Report from the 22nd January AGM. Jack Mayorcas, Sharon Hodgson, Baroness Nye and Earl Clancarty, outlined the suggestion which was discussed at the AGM in January, that the APPG group created an evidence-based report which aligned with the work of NSEAD and the 2019 Manifesto suggestions. There was whole group discussion around possible foci and some of these were Primary Education ITE and lack of subject specialist training/CPD, Wellbeing and Health, the ‘new normal’ trends in education, a recalibration of the art curriculum. Evidence would come from children, parents/carers/teachers and academics. This is a long term plan for the APPG which will need some careful planning. Earl Clancarty mentioned other APPG group reports and how they can be used effectively for lobbying. Their proposed outline is available here; https://www.equity.org.uk/media/2289/appg-inquiry-on-social-mobility-inquiry-outline.pdf

6. The impact of the recent parliamentary vote on the Erasmus scheme. Erasmus+ is an EU scheme that currently offers opportunities for UK citizens to study, work, volunteer, teach and train abroad in Europe and offers access to funding for adult education and earl Clancarty praised it for it’s many benefits, cultural exchange, the broadening of horizons, opportunity to learn a language, social media links post-placement. Despite a debate in both Houses, the government rejected the amendment to guarantee the UK’s involvement in Erasmus. He pointed out that if we lose Erasmus then we lose 50% of opportunities for students and that the only way forward is for the UK to commit to staying as part of the scheme. 

7. AOB. Date and time of next meeting: AOB: The proposed Immigration Bill lists shortage jobs in the UK and the list for England contains many which are in the creative industries. We need to call attention to this. Susan Coles would like to propose that the APPG writes to DCMS, DFE and the Home Office about the disconnect between them in understanding why this is happening. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-k-shortage-occupation-list Noted as an action point. 

Date and time of next meeting: Tuesday June 2nd 2020, 5-7 pm  CR 15.

Click here for Word version

AGM Minutes

AGM Register

Tuesday 12th February 3-5pm

Room C, 1 Parliament Street SW1A 2BQ

1. Welcome from Chair, Sharon Hodgson MP, and introductions: Minutes of the last meeting to be shared and approved. 5 mins

2. NSEAD update and future plans: Michele Gregson and Sophie Leach NSEAD. 10 mins total

3. A challenge to remarks recently made by HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills regarding a mismatch in arts and media courses and career options. Eleanor Simms, Clare Bentham, The Outreach Team at Manchester School of Art present. 15mins total

4. Cross-sector (HE, FE and schools as well as other agencies) collaborations with regard to fine art education: Cross-sector (HE, FE and schools as well as other agencies) collaborations with regard to fine art education: Chris Smith, National Association for Fine Art Education (NAFAE). 20 mins total

5. Art+Maths=Fergal: Meet Fergal Voorsanger-Brill, cited by his dad Bob and Roberta Smith, in a recent debate on Radio 4's Front Row, as an example of how a creative imagination is a prerequisite for young people keen to enter careers in design. The presentation will include first-hand experience and perspectives on what is needed to be successful in design education. 15 mins total

6. The limitations of Longitudinal Employment Outcomes (LEO) research and data: Gordon McKenzie CEO of GuildHE will summarise the report Understanding the limitations of graduate outcome measures in higher education and identify the significant issues for high education should LEO data be the only measure of graduate success in the labour market. Read the report here: https://guildhe.ac.uk/new-research-highlights-limitations-of-leo-data/ 20 mins total

7. Why do mature students in art and design matter? Martell Baines, Progression Manager and Dr Sam Broadhead Head of Research, Leeds Arts University. 20 mins total

8. AOB

9. Date and time of next meeting: Tuesday 14 May, 5-7pm.

Click here to download the Agenda (.docx)

Attendees:

Martell Baines Leeds Arts University

Clare Knox Bentham Manchester School of Art

Mandy Barratt Gomersal Primary School

Sandra Booth CHEAD

Tracey Brabin MP Co-Chair

Fergal Voorsanger Brill Student

Sam Broadhead Leeds Arts University

Richard Brown HeadTeacher

Jessica Austin Burdett NSEAD, HOF Sedgehill School

Jose Chambers Comino Foundation

Susan Coles NSEAD, APPG Co-ordinator

Simon Columb NSEAD, teacher of Art

Fiona Fieber SPACE studios

Ged Gast NSEAD

Michele Gregson General Secretary, NSEAD

Professor Andrew Groves University of Westminster

Paul Haywood NAFAE

Sharon Hodgson MP Co-Chair

Sophie Leach Deputy General Secretary of NSEAD

Patricia Lovett MBE Heritage Crafts Association

Michael Marshall NAFAE

Jack Mayorcas Office of Sharon Hodgson MP

Robin McGhee Incorporated Society of Musicians

Gordon McKenzie CEO, GuildHE

Imran Mirza Parasol Project

Fiona O’Connor BSIX College

Kimberley Appleyard Pallot NSEAD

Anne Louise Quinton NSEAD

Linden Reilly NAFAE

Ruth Sapsed Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination

Elle Simms Manchester School of Art

Bob and Roberta Smith Artist, Patron of NSEAD

Pauline Smith Arts University Bournemouth

Caroline Smith National Gallery London

Chris Smith NAFAE

John Steers HEAD Trust

Simon Taylor NSEAD

Ian Thompson NSEAD, UAL

Sam Toolan Open University

Michael Upton The Cass

David Vaughan HEAD Trust

Marlene Wylie NSEAD

1. Welcome from Sharon Hodgson MP Chair and Tracey Brabin MP, Co-chair: Minutes of the last meeting were shared and approved.

2. NSEAD update and future plans: Michele Gregson and Sophie Leach, NSEAD. The Society confirmed that they had continued to challenge the DfE on their representation of art and design. Sophie shared a letter from Nick Gibb MP responding to NSEAD’s own letter that had identified the grouping of all arts on the DfE’s ‘Get into teaching’ website. This had been rectified and changed. It was confirmed that NSEAD would again be responding to Nick Gibb, challenging the lack of bursaries for art and design trainee teachers. nsead.org/news/news.aspx?id=861 Michele Gregson updated the meeting on developments with the proposed new Ofsted framework for inspection with its focus on the quality of education. At a meeting attended by NSEAD, with headteachers, arts organisations and Sean Harford (HMI), school leaders reported positively on their initial response. However, the lack of any debate regarding the position of the English Baccalaureate remained a concern.

3. A challenge to remarks recently made by HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills regarding a mismatch in arts and media courses and career options; Eleanor Simms, Clare Know Bentham, The Outreach Team at Manchester School of Art: Eleanor Simms and Clare Bentham challenged the speech given by Amanda Spielman at the Association of Colleges’ (AoC) annual conference in Birmingham on 21st November 2018. The speech was noted as being both factually incorrect and damaging therefore to the subject. A PDF of this presentation is available online at nsead.org Clare and Eleanor have been invited to write a letter, underlining these concerns, which will be sent to Ms Spielman on behalf of the APPG and NSEAD.

4. Cross-sector (HE, FE and schools as well as other agencies) collaborations with regard to fine art education: Chris Smith, Associate Editor, Journal Visual Art Practice, Visiting Fellow, CCW Graduate School, University of the Arts, London: Chris Smith presented on the role of NAFAE and the need for more co-ordination and collaboration between schools and Higher Education. Paul Haywood (NAFAE) outlined the main purposes and foci of their work, historically and in the ‘now’. Given the expertise of educators, which it can be assumed is more than politicians, Paul reasoned that educators should have some authority to determine the nature of educational processes. However, this is not their experience in the current policy environment. NAFAE proposes greater collaboration, dialogue, debate and argument involving associations representing teacher practitioners, at all levels, such that we can predict and develop a forward looking and inclusive education. Such partnerships would address the individual needs and aspirations of students as they connect to a broader community and to society. The full presentation is available here nsead.org

5. Art+Maths=Fergal: Fergal Voorsanger-Brill, was cited by his dad Bob and Roberta Smith, in a recent debate on Radio 4's Front Row, as an example of how a creative imagination is a prerequisite for young people keen to enter careers in design. Fergal outlined his first-year experience of studying architecture at The Bartlett School of Architecture. The presentation included first-hand experience and perspectives on what is needed to be successful in design education. Fergal showed some of his work and explained the links between his own studies of Maths, Physics and Art within his new concepts and ideas. Fergal’s presentation can be viewed here: nsead.org

6. The limitations of Longitudinal Employment Outcomes (LEO) research and data: Gordon McKenzie, CEO of GuildHE, summarised the report Understanding the limitations of graduate outcome measures in higher education and identified the significant issues for higher education that LEO represent. LEO data does not look at family background, parental education and self-employment data (common to many who work in the creative industries). So, using LEO data and graduate earnings as the only measure of graduate success in the labour market is very limiting and a wholly inappropriate measure of economic value. The full presentation can be seen here: nsead.org

7. Why do mature students in art and design matter? Martell Baines, Progression Manager and Dr Sam Broadhead, Head of Research, Leeds Arts University shared an A3-diagram (available at: nsead.org) which examines why mature students study Art, Craft and Design in HE later in life, together with factors that support such learning. Factors influencing later-in-life study include inclusive pedagogies and student support mechanisms, strategies for celebrating strengths and capacities in and out of education, and the enriched learning experience for all. Examples were shared from the courses at Leeds Arts University. The full presentation is here at nsead.org

8. AOB There were no items. 9. Date and time of next meeting: Tuesday 14 May, 5-7pm. Please note new times for APPG Meetings.

Click here to down the minutes as a .docx file

Tuesday 14th May 2019, 5-7pm, Committee Room 17

House of Commons

Minutes of the meeting 

Meeting focus/theme: How do out-of-the-classroom and/or community experiences in the visual arts strengthen/impact on what subsequently happens in schools for children & young people, for teachers, and for curriculum models?

Attendees (please note, if you did not sign the register, your name may be missing):

Andrew Ash; University College of London

Ashley; Kids on the Green

Paula Ayliffe; Artscapers, Mayfield Primary School

Armaiti Bedford; Save Herts Art

Sandra Booth; CHEAD

Tracy Brabin MP; co-chair

Katy Brown; Wolverhampton Grammar School

Jessica Austin Burdett; ArtistTeacher

Holly Burton; V&A Museum

Sam Cairns; Cultural Learning Alliance

Susan M Coles; NSEAD. Co-ordinator, APPG

Zoe Dennington; Crafts Council

Josie Dick; Barbican

Ella; Artscapers

Elliott; Kids on the Green

Emili; Kids on the Green

Fiona Fieber; Space Studios

Gemma; Kids on the Green

David Gilks; The Arts Society-Wessex area

Jenny Gilks; The Arts Society-Wessex area

Peter Gregory; NSEAD

Michele Gregson; NSEAD

Anita Hamlin; Museums Sheffield

Dr Penny Ha; Bath Spa University

Jenny; Kids on the Green

Kalel; Kids on the Green

Lucy Kenney; Saturday Club Trust

Heather Leach; The Arts Society-Wessex area

Kevan Leach; The Arts Society-Wessex area

Elsa Lee; University of Cambridge

Zoe LeVack; Kids on the Green co-ordinator

Lex; Kids on the Green

Patricia Lovett: Heritage Crafts Association

Catherine McGill; Independent Consultant

Ashia Oozer; Plasnet School

Dr Rachel Payne; NSEAD

Anne Louise Quinton; Independent Art

Kirsty Redhead; Art teacher

Rose; Artscapers

Ed Rowlandson; Arts Council

Ruth Sapsed; ArtScapers

Jane Sillis; engage

Shazi Singh; Kids on the Green

Bob and Roberta Smith; artist and patron of NSEAD

Dr John Steers; HEAD Trust

Sarah Stepney; Artscapers, Mayfield School

Ian Thompson; University of the Arts London

Stephen Timms MP

Sam Toolan; Open University

Nick Trench Earl of Clancarty; vice chair

Matthew Turner; Barbican

David Vaughan; HEAD Trust

Nicola Walshe; Anglia Ruskin University

Michelle Widdrington; Kids on the Green

Marlene Wylie; NSEAD

1. Welcome from co- Chair, Tracy Brabin MP, and introductions: Minutes of the last meeting shared and approved. Apologies from co-chair Sharon Hodgson MP, who had to attend another meeting in her role as Shadow Minister for Health.

2. Learning without limits: children as ArtScapers influencing change in and around their school: Paula Ayliffe and Sarah Stepney, Headteachers Mayfield Primary School, Cambridge, Ruth Sapsed, Director, Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination. Ruth spoke about being inspired by a previous APPG presentation (by Karen Elsea and Michele Gregson) which underlined the UK’s lowly position in the Kids Rights Index. The Artscapers project is a vehicle for developing young children as co-creators and researchers. A detailed report on the work, involvement of schools and the impact was given in their presentation, with the voices of young participants being shared by both Ella and Rosy, pupils at Mayfield primary school. Paula and Sarah shared with us the need for headteachers to lead and not give into curriculum pressure and how their involvement in this had reminded them why they had chosen a teaching career. Presentation at this link; 

3. Learning Everywhere: School Without Walls and Forest of Imagination: Dr Penny Hay, Research Fellow, Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries and Senior Lecturer in Arts Education, Institute for Education, Bath Spa University Director of Research, 5x5x5=creativity. Penny began with the statement that ‘We are all guardians of children’s creativity’. The work of 5x5x5=creativity/ House of Imagination is all about researching and supporting children and young people’s creativity through partnerships between educational settings, artists and cultural centres in environments of enquiry.School Without Walls is a co-enquiry, a residency-based model of experiential and creative learning that transforms both the curriculum and the learning culture in schools. The impact within a school is powerful.House of Imagination is a studio for children and young people to work alongside creative professionals – time space attention, co-production.Forest of Imagination is a unique collaboration between the creative and cultural industries and the community of Bath. The projects recognise that children have the innate ability to learn. Art is connected to the world, it is not a separate thing. Full presentation is available at this link;

4. Kids on the Green, our story: Zoe Levack, Founder and Director, and young people from the Kids on the Green. A group from KOTG attended and also brought some of their artwork with them to share. In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, Kids on the Green was set up to provide respite for young people affected by the disaster, using a range of arts activities and sport. Zoe Levack and young people from the Kids on the Green shared their own personal stories about this initiative which grew from the need to offer a space for young people after the Grenfell Tower tragedy. These were very moving accounts as young people talked about their loss of friends in the fire and the impact on them and how KOTG had supported them. The issue for KOTG now is one of funding, they want to continue this community work and will be fundraising to make this viable. 

5. Art Matters:Ashia Oozeer, Catherine McGill and Ian Thompson described the benefits and challenges of bringing together 2000 children and young people in an East London Schools’ Art Matters exhibition. Now in its 21st year it has grown from strength to strength, in terms of visitor numbers and in terms school participation.The exhibition gives students the opportunity to have their work in a gallery setting and allows them to view their own work alongside that of other young artists. It develops an understanding of transition, It is an inspirational experience for a primary student to see what they might be doing at secondary level as it is for a secondary student to be inspired by the work of sixth formers. But more than that for a young person to see their work in a gallery setting gives them a huge sense of pride and self esteem. Large numbers of people come to see the exhibition. In the summer of 2018, 1906 people visited Art Matters. The exhibition also becomes a focus for free Saturday CPD sessions for interested teachers. Catherine and Ashia invited members of the APPG to send suggestions for supporting them in securing funding for the future of Art Matters and also invited everyone to the 2019 show, a poster was shared with details on. Full presentations (2) are available at this link: 

6. Why we need a moratorium on the sale of our heritage by local councils: Bob and Roberta Smith OBE, RA, (Artist, NSEAD Patron) and Armaiti Bedford (Save Herts Arts)contextualised and provided an update on the preventable and recent sale of a post-war ‘Art in Schools’ collection, in particular the disposal of the innovative educator John Newsom’s historic Hertfordshire School Loan Collection, by the leader of Hertfordshire Country Council. Bob and Roberta Smith introduced Armaiti Bedford who is behind the Save Herts Arts Campaign. The Council has justified the sale of the art works and maintains that the Schools Loan service ‘has become less relevant to the evolving curriculum’, something firmly refuted by the National Society for Education in Art & Design (NSEAD. The new Ofsted Framework for Inspection places emphasis on the quality of education through a well designed, well resourced curriculum. Exciting, stimulating learning materials should be available for all learners. Armaiti shared all the stages of her campaign so far and the communications between the Council and herself. Tracy Brabin MP said that the APPG should write a letter on behalf of this campaign, to be addressed to DCMS, to The Secretary of State for Education and to the Minister for Culture. This is an action point.

7. Updates on NSEAD work and campaigning: Michele Gregson, General Secretary. Micehel updated the meeting on the recent work of NSEAD, including campaigning for the right for trainee art teachers to a bursary. Correspondance between the NSEAD ITE SIG and the DFE highlighted flaws in the data that was being presented and challenging the efficacy and inequity of the allocation of bursaries for trainee teachers. The Society has been focused on developing new partnerships and building an increasingly diverse membership. Work with patrons is an important part of this, and NSEAD were delighted to announce Keith Brymer Jones – a great champion of craft and making – as their latest patron. NSEAD have been in discussions with The Art Society, supporting their members to engage with art, craft & design education and responding to their question ‘Is there an Art Education emergency?’.

8. Whatever happened to the Drawn Together joint APPG action group? Susan Coles, APPG co-ordinator, NSEAD. Susan announced that the joint group’s work was ‘on hold’ due to the current parliamentary focus being driven by BREXIT, but that she was still in touch with other APPG co-ordinators and that the future plan is to revive the relationship.

9. Date and time of next meeting: Tuesday 12th November 5-7pm.

10. AOB: Patricia Lovett: Chair, Heritage Crafts Association. Patricia kindly shared the Red List of Endangered Crafts booklets to meeting attendees and briefly updated us of current concerns in heritage crafts.

Download the minutes here

Tuesday 13th November 2018 3.45-5.45pm, Committee Room 14

Houses of Parliament

1. Welcome from Chair, Sharon Hodgson MP, and introductions. Minutes of last meeting to be shared.

2. Proposed changes to the Ofsted inspection framework, a summary and implications for art, craft and design in education, Sophie Leach, and Susan Coles, NSEAD.

3. ‘What are schools for?’ Carolyn Roberts, Head teacher, Thomas Tallis School, London. How and why Thomas Tallis School creates time for the broad and balanced curriculum.

4. Be a Creative Producer: Teenagers from Cambridgeshire will share their work. Year 9 teenagers (ages 12-13) are currently working on a series of animations aimed at encouraging peers across the country to become more aware of how they ‘consume’ the digital world, and how they can take the first steps to becoming creative contributors.

5. Misrepresentation of art and design and inequalities in current teacher recruitment policies, Rachel Payne, President-Elect, NSEAD. With reference to the letter sent to Damian Hinds MP, (23 October 2018) from the NSEAD Special Interest Group for Initial Teacher Education in Art, Craft and Design.

6. NSEAD: General Secretary update, Sophie Leach, Assistant General Secretary and Michele Gregson, General Secretary Elect, NSEAD.

7. Date and time of next meeting: Tuesday 12 February 2019, 4-6pm

Click here to download the Agenda (.docx)

Tuesday 13th November 2018 4-6pm, Committee Room 6

Houses of Parliament

Minutes of the meeting

Attendees:

Amelia #BeACreativeProducer

Mandy Barrett Gomersal Primary School

Natalie Bennett Green Party

Lluis #BeACreativeProducer

Tracy Brabin MP (co-chair)

Paula Briggs AccessArt

Jessica Austin-Burdett Sedgehill School

Holly Burton Victoria and Albert Museum

Samantha Cairns Cultural Learning Alliance

Sheila Ceccareli AccessArt

Jose Chambers Comino Foundation

John Childs NSEAD

Tamara Cincik Fashion Roundtable

Susan Coles NSEAD

Simon Columb NSEAD

Stephanie Cubbin St Marylebone Teaching School Alliance

Joe #BeACreative Producer

Zoe Dennington Crafts Council

Mark Ellis The Wellcome Trust

Neil Ferguson

Mary Anne Francis University of Brighton

Rafaella de Freitas Fashion Roundtable

Michele Gregson NSEAD General Secretary Elect

Jodie Muter Hamilton Fashion Roundtable

Sharon Hodgson MP (Chair)

Sophie Leach NSEAD

Kate Mason Big Draw

Jack Mayorcas Office of Sharon Hodgson

Patrick McDowell Fashion designer, CSM graduate

Robin McGhee ISM

Loraine Monk Artist Union England

Kimberley Pallot NSEAD

Rachel Payne NSEAD

Anne Louise Quinton University of Leeds

Kirsty Redhead Thomas Deacon Academy

Carolyn Roberts Thomas Tallis School

Ruth Sapsed Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination

Rowan Briggs-Smith #BeACreativeProducer

Chris Smith NAFAE

Caroline Smith The National Gallery

All-Party Parliamentary Group for

Art, Craft and Design in Education

Georgina Spry University of Chester

Earl of Clancarty, Nicholas Trench Vice Chair

Alex Tunstall #BeACreativeProducer

David Vaughan HeadTrust, NSEAD

Daniel Zeichner MP

Apologies:

Dr Peter Gregory NSEAD president

Lesley Butterworth General secretary NSEAD

1. Welcome from Chair, Sharon Hodgson MP, and introductions. Sharon read out a letter

from Angela Rayner MP, shadow Secretary of State for Education, who was unable to attend

the meeting.

2. Angela Rayner MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education. See item 1.

3. Proposed changes to OFSTED inspection framework, a summary and implications for art,

craft and design in education, Sophie Leach, and Susan Coles, NSEAD: Sophie and Susan

gave a presentation on the proposed new OFSTED inspection framework with its emphasis

on curriculum. The presentation identified how the new proposed framework might impact

on art and design. Login as an NSEAD member to view the presentation:

nsead.org/APPG/index.aspx

4. ‘What are schools for?’ Carolyn Roberts, Head teacher, Thomas Tallis School, London:

Carolyn shared how and why Thomas Tallis School creates time for the broad and balanced

curriculum. The school operates a two-year key stage 3, with three options outside of core

subjects for students. Students can take three arts subjects if they want. The infrastructure

and provision for the arts at the school is wide and varied. Year 9 is seen as a GCSE

foundation year, so that students can embed themselves into the richness and excitement of

their chosen subjects before beginning year 10 and content heavy GCSE courses. Tallis uses

the Tallis Habits for all subjects thomastallisschool.com/tallis-habits.html and staff and

students are skilled in the creativity habits. Carolyn said that a school should ‘look after its

young’ and that they have an entitlement to be exposed to the arts in order to learn about

themselves. She believes that the current national curriculum is ‘impoverished’ and ‘narrow’

and that accountability measures are impacting on education and provision. Carolyn noted

the lack of headteachers and recommended that Ofsted inspectors would helpfully better

understand the pressure schools are under.

5. Be a Creative Producer: Rowan, Amelia, Alex and Lluis from, four members of the

#BeACreativeProducer team, shared their work, verbally and in film formats. The

presentation is online at: accessart.org.uk/houses-of-parliament/. Rowan shared her

sketches (which were undertaken during the meeting) and Sharon Hodgson MP asked if she

could commission a portrait in the future. Please also note that there will be an event in

February 2019 to share the #BeACreativeProducer project in Cambridge

accessart.org.uk/how-to-be-a-creative-producer-opening-night/ It was noted that places

would be limited, and any delegates interested in attending, should please request to be

placed on the invite list, via: paula@accessart.org.uk

6. Misrepresentation of art and design and inequalities in current teacher recruitment

policies, Dr Rachel Payne, President-Elect, NSEAD. Rachel outlined the letter sent to Damian

Hinds MP, (23 October 2018) from the NSEAD Special Interest Group for Initial Teacher

Education in Art, Craft and Design which challenges the DFE’s ‘Get Into Teaching’. On this

website arts subjects have been reduced to a single umbrella term of ‘The Arts’ and not the

distinct subject headings. The letter also asked for an explanation as to the disparity

between subjects in awarding teacher trainee bursaries.

7. NSEAD: General Secretary update, Sophie Leach, Assistant General Secretary and

Michele Gregson, General Secretary Elect, NSEAD On behalf of Lesley Butterworth, outgoing

general secretary, Sophie passed on her thanks and gratitude for her support and the work

undertaken by the members and supporters of the APPG. Highlighting the importance of

networks and membership, Michele Gregson shared her intentions and ambitions to make

NSEAD a significant and even louder voice in the promotion of art, craft and design

education. Sharon welcomed Michele and also said that she had sent a letter of appreciation

to Lesley Butterworth to thank her for her work and commitment to the APPG.

8. Date and time of next meeting: Tuesday 12 February 2019, Room C (located at 1

Parliament Street) *3-5pm *PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE. Due to room capacity, RSVPs

essential for attendance to this meeting. 

Click here to download the minutes (.pdf)

AGM: Wednesday 17 October 2018

Room 0, Portcullis House

4.00-5.00pm

Agenda:

1. Introductions

2. Election of Chair

3. Election of Vice-Chairs

4. Brief update on ‘Drawn Together’ group

5. NSEAD/APPG priorities for this academic year

6. Date of next meeting November 13th 4-6pm

Click here to download the agenda (.docx)

Wednesday, 16 May 2018, 4pm-6pm

The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Westminster

1. Welcome from Chair, Sharon Hodgson MP, and Introductions. Minutes of last meeting shared. Update on Action Point from last meeting, (Letter to Children’s Commissioner).

2. Geoff Barton, General Secretary of ASCL, will talk about the broad and balanced curriculum and the need for subject specific CPD for teachers.

3. Andria Zafirakou, Senior Leader at the Alperton Community School, teacher of Art and Textiles, and Global Teacher Prize Winner 2018, on winning the prize and the value of art education.

4. ‘Developing Great Subject Teaching Rapid Evidence Review of subject-specific CPD in the UK’, a summary of the findings https://wellcome.ac.uk/sites/default/files/developing-great-subject-teaching.pdf and news of a new research project. Hilary Leevers, Head of Education and Learning, Nan Davies, Project Manager, Professional Development, Wellcome Trust.

5. Continued Professional development opportunities, a snapshot of the national picture, Lesley Butterworth, General Secretary NSEAD.

6. Alice Crane, Artistic Director SPAEDA, Somerset Partnerships Arts Education Agency, with Catherine (Cat) Smith, Art Co-ordinator Milverton Primary, Somerset ‘Switched on to Art – findings from an action research project investing in teachers’ creativity and invigorating practice’

7. Susan Coles, (NSEAD/NEATEN) networking for visual art teachers in north east England, professional development and contributing to personal wellbeing.

8. Next steps, discussion led by Sophie Leach (Assistant General Secretary NSEAD). Sophie will summarise letters previously sent by the APPG and officers to Secretaries of State for Education. How do we re-establish communication between APPG & DfE and what are the priorities?

9. AOB.

10. Date and time of next meeting.

Wednesday 16 May 2018, 4.00-5.45pm, The Boothroyd Room

Portcullis House, 1 Parliament St, Westminster, London SW1A 2JR

Attendees:

Mandy Barrett Gomersal Primary School

Mick Barrett Artist

Geoff Barton ASCL General Secretary

Tracy Brabin MP

Alex Bunting British Fashion Council

Jessica Austin Burdett Sedgehill School

Lesley Butterworth NSEAD

Sheila Ceccarelli AccessArt

Victoria Cerdeno St Marylebone School

Jose Chambers Comino Foundation

Alex Coles The Big Draw

Simon Columb NSEAD

Nick Corston STEAM Co

Matthew Cragoe University of Lincoln

Alice Crane SPAEDA

Petra Matthews Crow NSEAD

Steph Cubbin St Marylebone School

Nan Davies Wellcome Trust

Karen Eslea Turner Contemporary

Paula Graham CVAN

Michele Gregson Kent Art Teachers/ROH Bridge

Sharon Hodgson MP (Chair)

Sophie Leach NSEAD

Hilary Leevers Wellcome Trust

Kate Mason The Big Draw

Jack Mayorcas Office of Sharon Hodgson

Susannah Moore Finton House School

Kate Noble The National Gallery

Dr Rachel Payne NSEAD

Anne Louise Quinton Freelance

Ruth Sapsed Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination

Pauline Smith Arts University Bournemouth

Cat Smith Milverton Primary School

Clare Stanhope Harris Girls’ Academy

Dr John Steers Higher Education Art and Design (HEAD) Trust

Ian Thompson UAL/NSEAD

David Vaughan Higher Education Art and Design (HEAD) Trust

Thelma Walker MP

Natalie Walton Arts Council Collection

Joanna Woodbridge St Mary’s University

Andria Zafirakou Alperton Community School

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for

Art, Craft and Design in Education

1. Welcome from Chair, Sharon Hodgson MP, & Introductions: Minutes of the last meeting, 14

March 2018 were agreed. Update on Action Points from last meeting: 2. Letter to Children’s

Commissioner: Copies were shared and will be attached to the minutes.

2. Geoff Barton (GB), General Secretary of The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL):

Why do we need a broad and balanced curriculum and, why do we teachers need subject-specific

CPD? GB examined the importance of art and design in schools, from the point of view of his recent

leadership and head teacher experience in schools. GB shared a conversation with Nick Gibb,

Minister for School Standards, where he had identified that arts subjects had been marginalised;

evidence had been shared, to include the large-scale BBC Survey on Creative Subjects, which had

proven that in England, curriculum breadth had reduced. GB noted that ‘entitlement’ was a key

word, and that access to the arts was a birth right for every child. GB also shared that the current

performance-led education system was unsustainable and that there was an appetite from

employers to have creative people in their workforces. In the age of the robot, creative input would

always be human, but school leaders would need to be bolder.

3. Andria Zafirakou (AZ), Senior Leader at the Alperton Community School, Teacher of Art and

Textiles, and Global Teacher Prize Winner 2018, on winning the prize and the value of art

education: AZ confirmed that she had observed a growing movement, which had begun to celebrate

what teachers achieve, as in her own experience of winning the award. AZ shared her conviction that

‘art saves lives’ by giving young people opportunities to be creative and expressive, and taking them

away from the temptations of other activities, such as gang culture. AZ was also concerned that

increasingly teachers are not allowed out of school to attend CPD – many teachers had moved

towards self-managed and self-funded CPD organised in their own time. AZ recommended that

educators need to raise parental awareness of the arts, especially with respect to employability in

the cultural and creative industries and that this connection, between the industries and schools, is

essential. AZ outlined her plans for using the Global Teacher prize money to set up a charity called

‘Artists in Residence’ which would bring artists, musicians, performers into schools. She would seek

to influence policymakers to show that art and design is inclusive and that everyone should have

access to it.

4. ‘Developing Great Subject Teaching Rapid Evidence Review of subject-specific CPD in the UK’, a

summary of the findings and news of a new research project – Hilary Leevers (HL), Head of

Education and Learning, Nan Davies (ND), Project Manager, Professional Development, Wellcome

Trust wellcome.ac.uk/sites/default/files/developing-great-subject-teaching.pdf: HL and ND

presentation showed evidence that subject-specific CPD is highly effective in raising attainment and

teacher retention. The report findings had confirmed that school leaders and teachers also needed to

have a better understanding of what effective CPD looks like. Their recommendations included

quality assurance of CPD provision, individual teacher professional development, school

development and CPD to be linked to review. It was confirmed that the Trust’s future research would

centre on a compact regional pilot study (Sheffield/Rotherham) beginning in September 2018 and

involving 40 schools. The presentation ended with the statement that every teacher should regularly

participate in subject-specific CPD. The full presentation can be viewed online*.

5. Continued Professional Development opportunities, a snapshot of the national picture, Lesley

Butterworth (LB), General Secretary NSEAD: LB gave a national overview of subject-specific CPD

from an NSEAD perspective, acknowledging pockets of excellence but more apparently dwindling

numbers attending subject-specific CPD, not from lack of interest but for lack of time and funding to

come out of the classroom into a cultural setting to attend such opportunities. Citing The NSEAD

Survey Report 2015-16, LB confirmed that these findings are still true, and that barriers to subjectspecific CPD can be attributed to the consequences of government policy. Read the full text online*

6. Alice Crane (AC), Artistic Director SPAEDA, (Somerset Partnerships Arts Education Agency), with

Catherine Smith (CS), Art Co-ordinator Milverton Primary, Somerset ‘Switched on to Art’ – findings

from an action research project investing in teachers’ creativity and invigorating practice: AC

outlined the work of SPAEDA, and how a project funded by the Arts Council ‘Grants for the Arts’ had

explored new ways to ensure Arts CPD and resources reach subject leaders. The project had

comprised of a rich programme of action learning networks, cultural events, conferences and

seminars. Within it a collaborative sketchbook project called Switchbook, in part inspired by

Sketchbook Circle, built a community of 38 arts leaders and young ambassadors working side-by side,

resourced by visits to cultural venues. CS shared how the opportunity had aided her role as art coordinator and inspired and empowered her to do the job effectively. The presentation can be viewed

online*

7. Susan Coles, (NSEAD/NEATEN) networking for visual art teachers in North East England,

professional development and contributing to personal wellbeing: Susan shared the story of the

North East Art Teacher Educator Network (NEATEN) and the way that an unfunded and enthusiastic

group of teachers had worked together to create free or low cost, high-quality professional

development for local teachers. Examples and links with other organisations (e.g. NSEAD, BALTIC,

The Big Draw) were shared. Again, it was noted that all work was voluntary and undertaken in

teacher’s own time. The link to individual teacher sense of wellbeing through being both challenged

and valued was pointed out. ‘What all of us need, to be better at what we do, is…collective wisdom.’

Read the full text online*

8. Next steps: A summary of letters previously sent by the APPG and officers to Secretaries of State

for Education followed by a discussion led by Sophie Leach (SL), Assistant General Secretary

NSEAD: SL noted that since the formation of the APPG there had been four Secretaries of State for

Education, to whom the APPG had addressed five letters. With the intention of opening new lines of

communication with Damian Hinds MP, Secretary of State for Education, SL summarised each letter

and recent research, to include the BBC Creative Arts in Schools Survey and a recent DfE

announcement of £96 million for talented ‘arts’ pupils. SL noted that whilst the APPG might welcome

the DfE’s announcement, the APPG might also wish to ask: why is there such an imbalance of

spending [94% is allocated to music, dance and drama]? And, how will pupils even know they are

talented when curriculums are so depleted of arts subjects? Read the full text online*

9. AOB: Attendees were asked to collect a copy of Sharon Hodgson’s letter of response sent to the

Children’s Commissioner re. The KidsRights Index.

10. Date and time of next meeting: The AGM will take place 4pm, Wednesday 17 October 2018.

The next full APPG meeting will be held, 4-6pm, 13 November 2018. Locations tbc.

* All presentations can be viewed online: nsead.org/APPG/papers.aspx

1. Chair’s welcome and introductions. Sharon Hodgson MP.

2. Turner Contemporary, Margate, Kent. Karen Eslea (Head of Learning and Visitor Experience at Turner Contemporary) and Michele Gregson (Arts Education Specialist) have been working together to explore and champion Children’s Leadership through the Arts.

3. Gomersal Primary School Art Council. Six students from the school are attending with their teacher Mandy Barrett and their headteacher Melanie Cox. The student “Art Council” will share with the group what their remit is and why they are here today.

4. Branwen Jeffries (BBC Education reporter) will present conclusions from the recent BBC survey on the decline of Arts in the school curriculum. www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-42862996

5. Andrew Baiseley of the National Education Union, will present an update on national school funding issues.

6. Updates from NSEAD, including Sharon Hodgson’s letter to Damian Hinds. Sophie Leach, Assistant General Secretary NSEAD.

7. Drawn Together joint APPG action, updates. Susan Coles.

8. AOB

9. Date/time next meeting: Wednesday 16th May 2018, 4-6pm.

Click here to download the Agenda as a .Docx file

Attendees:

Jessica Austin Burdett; Sedgehill School

Andrew Baisley; National Education Union

Mandy Barrett; Gomersal Primary School

Kathy Bor; Kingston University

Tracy Brabin MP

Alex Bunting; British Fashion Council

Jose Chambers; Comino Foundation

Tamara Cincik; Fashion Roundtable

Alex Coles; Big Draw

Susan Coles; NSEAD, APPG secretary

Simon Columb; NSEAD/North Bridge House School

Melanie Cox; Gomersal Primary School

Nicky Dewar; Crafts Council

Vanessa Elliott; BBC

Karen Eslea; Turner Contemporary

Paula Gazzard; CVAN.art

Michele Gregson; ROH Bridge

Clare Haskins; Saturday Club Trust

Sharon Hodgson MP (chair)

Vicky Ireland; Action for Children’s Art

Branwen Jeffreys; BBC

Gillian Keegan MP

Sophie Leach; NSEAD

Patricia Lovett MBE; Heritage Crafts Association

Kate Mason; The Big Draw

Petra Matthews Crow; NSEAD/Astor College, Dover

Jack Mayorcas; Office of Sharon Hodgson MP

Loraine Monk; Artists Union England

Sarah Mower MBE; British Fashion Council, US Vogue

Baroness Nye; House of Lords

Angela Partington; Kingston University

Sarah Philips; Goldalming Sixth Form College

Kirsty Redhead; NSEAD/Thomas Deacon School

Melanie Rickey; Founder Future British

Patrick Sanders; NSEAD/City of London School

Ruth Sapsed; Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination

Pauline Smith; Arts University Bournemouth

Clare Stanhope; Harris Girls’ Academy East Dulwich

David Vaughan; NSEAD Honorary member and HEAD Trust

Molly Kate Vickers; Office of Tracy Brabin MP

David Wood; Action for Children’s Art

Pupils from Gomersal Primary School; William, Matilda, Eva, Samuel, Grace, Harriet.

Apologies: The Earl Clancarty, Thelma Walker MP, Lesley Butterworth, NSEAD.

1. Chair’s welcome and introductions. Sharon Hodgson MP welcomed attendees and apologies were given. Minutes of the previous meeting were shared.

2. Turner Contemporary, Margate, Kent: Karen Eslea (Head of Learning and Visitor Experience at Turner Contemporary) and Michele Gregson (Arts Education Specialist) presented their work which has explored and championed Children’s Leadership through the Arts. They identified a concern with the UK’s ranking on the Kids Rights Index. The full presentation is available here: http://www.nsead.org/downloads/APPG_March_2018_APPG_KE_and_MG.pdf Karen and Michele invited APPG members to join them in a ‘Think Tank’ on this matter. Tracy Brabin MP and Sharon Hodgson MP noted that they would collaborate on a letter to the Children’s Commissioner and also consider asking a parliamentary question with regard to the Kids Rights Index and the UK’s ranking.

3. Gomersal Primary School Arts Council: Six students from Gomersal Primary School attended with their arts specialist teacher Mandy Barrett and head teacher Melanie Cox. After an introduction by Melanie Cox, members of the school’s arts council shared, with belief and conviction, the remit of their council and why it was needed. Individual presentations are available here: nsead.org/APPG/papers.aspx

4. Branwen Jeffreys (Education Editor BBC News) presented the results from the recent BBC survey on the decline of arts in secondary schools: www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-42862996. Branwen Jeffreys explained that the survey was a snapshot and not definitive of every school in the country. Of the 1200 schools who participated in the survey, nine in 10 schools had cited a reduction in time, facilities and lack of specialist staff as a driver for reduction in at least one arts subjects; four in 10 had spent less money on facilities, more than three out of 10 had reduced timetabled lessons; some reported having fewer specialist staff. Some respondents indicated that there had been no impact in the provision of arts subjects in their school.

5. Andrew Baisely, the National Education Union, presented an update on national school funding issues. Identifying what were described as ‘the largest cuts to school funding seen in a generation’, Andrew Baisely evidenced the impact and pressure on school budgets. It was noted that the pressure on budgets had resulted in arts subjects being more vulnerable. The presentation, which included extensive data, is summarised here: nsead.org/appg/papers.aspx. Questions and discussion followed. Gillian Keegan MP said the funding formula would take years to embed.

6. Updates from NSEAD and dialogue with the new Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds MP: Sophie Leach, NSEAD, outlined the recent work of the Society. This included: Three meetings with Ofsted whose recent research had focussed on the curriculum; a summary of a review Developing Great Subject Teaching published by the Wellcome Trust and Curee. The second part of this item, to include correspondence between Sharon Hodgson MP, with three Secretary of States for Education (2013-2017), was held over for the next meeting.

7. Drawn Together joint APPG action, updates: Susan Coles updated the group on the two advocacy events which have taken place under the umbrella title ‘Drawn Together’ and representing joint arts and design education APPG groups. The group are aiming for a third event in the autumn 2018 – a focus and lead APPG was required and under discussion.

8. AOB: There were no items recorded.

9. Date/time next meeting: Wednesday 16 May 2018, 4-6.00pm.

Click here to download the agenda as a .Docx file

1. Welcome from Sharon Hodgson MP (chair).

2. Letter to Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Education, re. Initial Teacher Education in Art, Craft, and Design. Sharon Hodgson MP.

3. NSEAD updates and reflections on the past few months, including priorities and a review of summer 2017 examination entries for Art and Design. Lesley Butterworth and Sophie Leach, NSEAD.

4. Bacc for the Future Campaign, updates. Henry Vann, Head of External Affairs, Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM).

5. House of Lords debate, on the impact of the English Baccalaureate on the take up of creative and technical subjects, and the case for broadening the curriculum, summing up and comments. Earl Clancarty (vice chair).

6. Norwich UA Report ‘A review of Art and Design Education in Norfolk’s secondary sector’ headlines and summary points. Hilary Gresty, independent visual arts professional.

7. The Heritage Crafts Association (HCA)) update: ‘The Radcliffe Red List of Endangered Crafts’ and ‘ Heritage craft apprenticeships, vocational and other career paths into heritage craft industries. Patricia Lovett MBE and Greta Bertram (HCA).

8. AOB.

9. Date/time next meeting. 

Click here  to download the Agenda as a .Docx file

Attendees

Mamoud Barry, Office of Sharon Hodgson

Greta Bartram, The Heritage Craft Association

Kathy Bor, Kingston University

Tracy Brabin, MP

Lesley Butterworth, NSEAD

Sheila Ceccarelli, AccessArt

Jose Chambers, Comino Foundation

Dr Helen Charman, Design Council

John Childs, NSEAD

Tamara Cincik, Fashion Roundtable

The Earl Clancarty, House of Lords

Lizzie Crump, Cultural Learning Alliance

Susan Coles, NSEAD

Simon Columb, NSEAD

Stephanie Cubbin, St Marylebone School

Nicky Dewar, Crafts Council

Jessica Faulkner, Office of Sharon Hodgson

Hilary Gresty, Freelance

Emma Hardy, MP

Sharon Hodgson, MP

Sophie Leach, NSEAD

Patricia Lovett MBE, Heritage Crafts Association

Sarah Mower MBE, British Fashion Council

Fay Penrose, University of Liverpool

Sarah Phillips, Goldaming College

Kirsty Redhead, Art teacher

Linden Reilly, NAFAE

Pauline Smith, Arts University Bournemouth

Dr John Steers, HEAD

Ian Thompson, UAL

Michael Upton, London Met University/The Cass

Thelma Walker, MP

James Waudby, Office of Emma Hardy

1. Welcome from Sharon Hodgson MP. Sharon Hodgson welcomed attendees.

2. Letter to Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for Education, re Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Art, Craft, and Design. The letter to Justine Greening MP from Sharon Hodgson MP, APPG chair, together with the response letter from Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools, was tabled. It was agreed that a follow-up letter to Justine Greening, would address the APPG’s continued ITE concerns. The use of the term ‘one arts subject’ was seen as being an unsatisfactory reply. ACTION: A response letter to be written and addressed to Justine Greening would be sent by Sharon Hodgson.

3. NSEAD updates, including priorities and a review of summer examination entries for Art and Design. Lesley Butterworth, General Secretary, NSEAD provided an update on recent NSEAD work to include the revised NSEAD Manifesto for Art, Craft and Design Education 2017, Acts of Translation at Tate Exchange (a response to the NSEAD 2015-16 Survey Report) and meetings with OFSTED. Sophie Leach, Assistant General Secretary presented on the GCSE and GCE results 2017 and confirmed that numbers taking art and design GCSE had fallen to the lowest level this century. Full presentation is available here.

4. Bacc for the Future Campaign. Henry Vann, Head of External Affairs, Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), updated the group on the work of the Bacc For The Future campaign. The campaign had recently been present at the fringe events of the party political conferences, where concerns about the impact of government accountability measures (EBacc/Progess 8) on GCSE Arts entries had been shared. Lizzie Crump (CLA) asked why education had not been included in the industrial strategy and stressed that the agenda had to be moved on to have impact on the Department for Education.

5. House of Lords debate, on the impact of the English Baccalaureate on the take up of creative and technical subjects, and the case for broadening the curriculum. The Earl Clancarty (vice chair) reported on the 2.5hr debate held 18 September 2017 that had been moved by Baroness Stedman-Scott (Conservative). Thirteen of the 15 cross-party speakers in the debate wanted change. The Edge Foundation and technical education in schools were referenced, as the new T-levels showed a contradiction in government thinking: by the age of 16, students were required to take Ebacc subjects rather than arts or design subjects. Full debate available here. ACTION: Tracy Brabin MP, Thelma Walker MP, Emma Hardy MP, all members of the Education Select Committee, suggested that this could be a forum in which to further debate and address these issues.

6. Norwich University of the Arts (NUA) Report: ‘A review of Art and Design Education in Norfolk’s secondary sector’ headlines and summary points. Hilary Gresty, independent visual arts professional, presented a summary of the review commissioned by NUA. The focus of the report sought to determine how NUA could support visual art education in secondary schools in the Norfolk region. The research showed multiple factors influencing fair and accessible opportunities to study art and design and D&T within statutory education. It was noted that secondary art teachers reported that year 7 pupils lacked resilience and a willingness to take risks with their work. Full presentation can be read at this link: NUA,_A_Review_of_Art_and_Design_Education_in_Norfolk

7. The Radcliffe Red List of Endangered Crafts and HCA apprenticeships, vocational and other career paths into the industries, Greta Bertram and Patricia Lovett MBE (The Heritage Crafts Association (HCA)). Greta Bertram presented recent research used to create The Radcliffe Red List of Endangered Crafts: Red List. Concerns were shared and the need for schools to promote careers into craft; pathways into training, and the barriers that can prevent access and progression. Full presentation is available here: HCA Red List Presentation

8. AOB: There were no items presented.

9. Date/time next meeting: The next meeting has been confirmed: 14 March 2018, 4pm, Committee Room 5.          

Click here to download the minutes as a .Docx file                                                          

1. Welcome from Sharon Hodgson MP.

2. Lesley Butterworth, (NSEAD) An introduction to the issues affecting recruitment and retention in ITE for art, craft and design; A summary of the NSEAD’s Special Interest Group for Initial Teacher Education.

3. Sophie Cole, (Programme Leader PGCE Secondary Art, Craft and Design, Northumbria University) and two current Northumbria PGCE trainee teachers, on the challenges faced by our next generation of art teachers and their motivations for committing to ‘the best career in the world’.

4. Dr. Peter Gregory (Canterbury Christ Church University) presents the provider point of view, talking about issues at art and design in the primary education phase.

5. Dr. Rachel Payne (Oxford Brookes University) Dr Rachel Payne (Oxford Brookes University) on the role of partnership and community in ITE.

6. Conclusions and areas of concern/next steps that will inform the NSEAD Special Interest Group for ITE.

7. AOB.

8. Date/time next meeting: May 10th 2017, 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Click here to download the agenda as a .docx file

Attendees:

Professor Jeff Adams; University of Chester

Andy Ash; IOE/UCL

Sarah Bagshaw; Newman University

Mandy Barrett; Gomersal Primary School

Lesley Butterworth; NSEAD

Peter Carr; Birmingham City University

John Childs; NSEAD

Tamara Cincik; Office of Sharon Hodgson

The Earl Clancarty; Vice Chair, House of Lords

Sophie Cole; University of Northumbria

Susan Coles; NSEAD

Janet Coles; Newman University

Linda Copeland; Vida Education OCR

Nicky Dewar; Crafts Council

Samantha Fairbairn; University of Northumbria

Dr. Peter Gregory; NSEAD

Hilary Gresty; Freelance

June Harbottle; Birmingham City University

Debbie Hepplestone; St Bernards RC School, Rotherham

Sharon Hodgson MP; Chair

Simon Huson; UWE Bristol

Henna Javed; University of Northumbria

Sally Johnson; University of Brighton

Sophie Leach; NSEAD

Katie Leonard; Staffordshire University/British Ceramics Biennial

Andrew Leslie; St Bernard’s RC School, Rotherham

Patricia Lovett MBE; Heritage Craft Association

Carla Mindel; University of Greenwich

Melanie Moss; UWE Bristol

Baroness Nye; Vice Chair, House of Lords

Susan Ogier; University of Roehampton

Dr. Rachel Payne; Oxford Brookes University

Dan Firth Powell; St James CE High School

Helen Ross; Creative Fuse North East

Patrick Saunders; The Urswick School

Pauline Smith: University of Bournemouth

Kiran Tasneem; Birmingham City University

Ian Thompson: UAL London

Jennifer Tuckett; Central Saint Martins

Neil Walton; Goldsmiths University

Chris Waterman; APPG for the Teaching Profession

Pete Webster

Jo Woodbridge; Saint Mary’s University

1/17 Welcome from Sharon Hodgson MP: Sharon Hodgson thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Introductions followed.

2/17 An introduction to the issues affecting recruitment and retention in ITE for art, craft and design: Lesley Butterworth, (LB) outlined NSEAD’s commitment to Initial Teacher Education (ITE) which has always been at the centre of the Society’s work. LB confirmed that recent ITE changes and concerns had led to NSEAD setting up an ITE Special Interest Group (SIG). LB welcomed the opportunity to bring together the ITE audience together in order to share concerns and prioritise plans for future action.

Action points: The APPG agreed to support the work of the ITE SIG and NSEAD agreed to update the APPG on priorities and future course of actions.

3/17 The challenges faced by the next generation of art and design teachers and their motivations for committing to ‘the best career in the world’: Sophie Cole (SC), Programme Leader PGCE Secondary Art, Craft and Design, Northumbria University, outlined current concerns, including inequalities in the system for art and design trainee recruitment, including large bursaries for some subjects and no bursary for art and design trainees. SC was however able to celebrate and showcase the positives about the Northumbria University course, and how the support of schools, mentors, galleries and museums has made a difference to the course and their trainees. SC also noted that students bring fresh perspectives to art and design departments in schools. Samantha Fairbairn and Henna Javed, both trainee art and design teachers from Northumbria University, co-presented their rationale for entering the profession and their own school and university experiences. The transcripts transcript can be read here: www.nsead.org/APPG/papers.aspx

Action points: For the ITE community, across all phases, sectors and providers, to continue to raise the profile and benefits of art, craft and design education.

4/17 Dr. Peter Gregory (Canterbury Christ Church University) a provider perspective and the issues concerning primary education ITE: Peter Gregory (PG) entitled his presentation ‘Art and Design in Primary ITE, or, how many minutes does it take to train a primary teacher in the subject?’ PG’s presentation contextualised the current situation and indentified both the depletion in teaching hours for art and design and the reduction in centres offering specialist training in the subject. PG recommended the need for review and scoping of current ITE art and design provision. The presentation can be viewed here: Dr_Peter_Gregory_presentation,_Art_and_Design_in_primary_ITE.pdf

Action points: The APPG agreed to support an independent bid to fund further research into changes in art and design ITE provision.

5/17 Dr. Rachel Payne (Oxford Brookes University), the role of partnership and community in ITE: Rachel Payne (RP) outlined changes in secondary PGCE provision, notably that 36 per cent of art and design ITE providers closed between 2010 and 2013. RP also outlined the impact of a closure on a locality, citing Oxford Brookes and the surrounding region as an example. Concerns were summarised and shared and the recommendations of the Carter Review (2015:17) were also addressed. The presentation can be read here: Rachel_Payne_The_impact_of_secondary_PGCE_closures.pdf

Action Points: The ITE SIG/NSEAD agreed to identify and create a database of target groups, and to revise and create materials to communicate with target ITE groups. The APPG agreed to support the SIG with any funding proposals to focus on ITE provision and professional development opportunities.

6/17 Conclusions and areas of concern/next steps that will inform the NSEAD Special Interest Group for ITE:

Sharon Hodgson thanked all presenters for their presentations and proposed that the research should to be shared with The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for Education.

Action Point: It was agreed that a letter addressing ITE art and design provision would be drafted on behalf of the APPG by NSEAD/SIG for the attention of Justine Greening. The letter would initially be drafted and shared with Sharon Hodgson and the APPG.

8/17 AOB: There were no further items.

9/17 Date/time next meeting: 10 May 2017, 4:00-5:30 pm. The meeting will be held in The Wilson Room, which is in Portcullis House. Please note this different venue: Portcullis House

Click here to download the minutes as a .Docx file

Chair’s Welcome & Introductions.

1. Minutes of Last Meeting/Actions Arising.

2. Update from Henry Vann, Incorporated Society of Musicians, on Bacc for the Future campaign.

3. Lesley Butterworth, General Secretary NSEAD and Sophie Leach, Assistant General Secretary NSEAD: next steps for the EBacc campaign; GCSE/GCE results; Traction on the NSEAD Survey Report 2016; Financial implications on the subject to include A&D and DT departments merging/being mothballed and the impact that has on our subject; Amplifying craft and design – including discussion.

4. Julia Bennett: Head of Research and Policy Crafts Council, Studying Craft 16 - an update from the Crafts Council on trends in craft education and training since 2007/08. Including discussion.

5. Kate Holland, Bookbinder (with Lord Sawyer): the national demise of bookbinding education within the wider context of the downturn of craft education.

6. Sorell Hershberg, Director of The Sorrell Foundation: The Creative Journeys films, an encouragement to young people to consider careers using Art, Craft and Design.

7. Susan Coles, NSEAD: updates on the joint APPG group summit on 11 October 2016.

8. AOB.

9. Date of next meeting. 14th December 2016.

Click here to download the Agenda as a .Docx file

1/16 In attendance:

Mandy Barrett: Gomersal Primary School

Julia Bennett: Head of Research and Policy, Crafts Council

Paula Briggs: AccessArt

Lesley Butterworth: General Secretary, NSEAD

Mel Carter: CultureBridge North East

John Childs: NSEAD/OCR

Tamara Cincik: Office of Sharon Hodgson MP

Earl Clancarty: House of Lords

Susan Coles: NSEAD/Secretary to group

Lizzie Crump: Cultural Learning Alliance

Nicky Dewar: Head of Learning/Talent development, Crafts Council

Lily Elms: Artist/Educator

Linda Ewen: Arts Emergency

Ged Gast: NSEAD

Hilary Gresty: Independent Visual Arts Consultant

Sorrel Hershberg: The Sorrell Foundation/Saturday Club Trust

Sharon Hodgson MP: Chair

Kate Holland: Bookbinder

Melanie Jay: University of Reading

Sophie Leach: NSEAD

Patricia Lovett: Heritage Crafts Association

Baroness Nye: House of Lords

Rachel Payne: NSEAD

Fay Penrose: University of Liverpool (Anatomy)

Patrick Sanders: The Urswick School

Jane Sillis: engage

Pauline Smith: Arts University Bournemouth

Catherine Ritman Smith: Design Museum

Pei-Shan Su: University of the Arts London

Sam Toolan: University of the Arts London

Daniel Tye: Office of Sharon Hodgson MP

Natalie Walton: Arts Council Collection

Luke Watson: University of the Arts London Outreach Practitioner

Marlene Wylie: NSEAD

Yaqi Zhang: University of the Arts London

1

2/16 Chair’s Welcome & Introductions

Sharon Hodgson welcomed everyone to the meeting and delegates introduced themselves.

13/16 Minutes of Last Meeting/Actions Arising

The Earl Clancarty and Baroness Nye agreed to continue ask further questions of Lord Nash, relating to the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), the decrease in art and design GCSE and GCE candidates and the impact of Government policies on provision of arts subjects in schools.

14/16 Update from Henry Vann, Incorporated Society of Musicians: The Bacc for the Future campaign:

Henry Vann confirmed that press coverage following the 4 July Westminster Hall EBacc debate, had resulted in an increase in supporters of The Bacc for the Future Campaign; Figures for the 2016 GCSE arts subjects provided evidence that all arts subjects had been affected by the EBacc – consequently the Campaign would provide an evidenced based rebuttal of claims that the EBacc has not affected uptake of the arts subjects; Government assertions that Ebacc subjects were the best route to HE cannot be backed with evidence and the Russell Group universities had not publicised such research. Whilst the EBacc was presented by the Government as comparable to other qualifications across the world, high performing PISA countries crucially make the arts compulsory up to 14-16. The Bacc for the Future Campaign would continue to use robust evidence to refute the DfE’s justifications of the Bacc: www.baccforthefuture.com. It was also noted that results for The Ebacc Consultation are long overdue.

Action Point: Bacc for the Future supporters agreed to continue to support the campaign and to encourage other partners to join.

15/16 and Sophie Leach, Assistant General Secretary NSEAD: Next steps for the EBacc campaign; GCSE/GCE results

Sophie Leach reported on the next steps for art and design and the EBacc campaign noting the fall in GCSE/GCE 2016 art and design candidate numbers. GCSE art and design subjects had decreased from 194,637 to 183,085 (this represented a 6 percent decline in a year). The total number of GCE AS level candidates had also fallen very sharply from 62,375 in 2015 to 41,545, a decrease of 20,830 art and design candidates. This is a big 33.4% decline in candidates. nsead.org/downloads/APPG_14_Sept_2016_NSEAD_SL_final.pdf

Lesley Butterworth, General Secretary NSEAD: Traction on the NSEAD Survey Report 2015-16

Lesley Butterworth summarised the NSEAD Survey Report 2015-16 and noted the organisations who had shared and responded to the Report’s 30 recommendations. It was confirmed that the DfE had not responded but amongst others HEIs, Tate, ACE, the parent teacher association had shown a keen interest. Lesley Butterworth also shared how The Society would seek to improve and enhance national perceptions of art, craft and design in the public domain, and quoted from Darren Henley CEO of Arts Council England, to ‘shine a light on the arts’. www.nsead.org/APPG/papers.aspx

Ged Gast, president NSEAD; Financial implications on the subject to include A&D and DT departments merging/being mothballed and the impact that has on our subject

Ged Gast confirmed that some schools are merging art and design and D&T departments. The presentation outlined that there may be some benefits to these mergers, however, the mergers can lead to a reduction in provision, a reduction of curriculum breadth, time and a misunderstanding of the both subjects and career pathways. www.nsead.org/downloads/APPG_14_Sept_2016_NSEAD_GG_final.pdf

17/16 Julia Bennett: Head of Research and Policy Crafts Council; Studying Craft 16 – an update from the Crafts Council on trends in craft education and training since 2007/08

Julia Bennett presented a summary of Studying Craft 16 a Crafts Council report to be launched 4 October 2016. The report will aim to create an evidence base which will not only increase our understanding of trends in craft education and training, but contribute to the debate about how best to secure creative education in general, and craft education in particular. The full report and an animated summary can be accessed at: www.craftscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/studyingcraft

Action Point: share and disseminate the findings of Studying Craft 16 widely.

18/16 Kate Holland, Bookbinder (with Lord Sawyer): the national demise of bookbinding education within the wider context of the downturn of craft education.

Kate Holland, an experienced contemporary bookbinder, contextualised her work in the industry and shared how and why the specialism was dying our as a consequence of course closures. Despite a buoyant market, with potential for growth, opportunities to learn the craft had disappeared. The benefit of the craft as a therapeutic process, good for health and wellbeing, was also examined.

Action point: The APPG will continue to highlight and share the demise of craft education.

19/16 Sorrel Hershberg, Director of the Sorrell Foundation: Creative Journeys films, encouraging young people to consider careers using art, craft and design.

Sorrel Hershberg outlined the role and the work of the Sorrell Foundation through the National Saturday Club visual art opportunities, which has worked with children from all over England and from a 1000 plus schools. It was stressed that these opportunities were additional to the curriculum and not ‘instead of’. www.saturday-club.org. Also shared were details of the Creative Journeys films, produced by the Foundation and the HEAD Trust. The films are designed to present real-life case studies so that people (young people in particular) are reminded that it is worth choosing a career within art, craft and design. The group watched a small part of the film which can be viewed here: creativejourneyuk.org

Action point: Share films to support advocacy for careers in the creative and cultural industries.

20/16 Susan Coles, NSEAD: Updates on the joint APPG group summit on 11 October 2016

Susan Coles gave details and a verbal invitation to the joint APPG arts, health and wellbeing in education summit to be held 11 October 2016, in the Attlee Suite from 2:15pm to 4pm.

Action point: Notify named individuals if you wish to attend, as the event is by invite only.

21/16 AOB: There were no AOBs.

22/16 Date of next meeting

The next meeting was confirmed: Wednesday 14 December 4-6pm, room TBC.

Click here to download the minutes as a .Docx file

1. Introductions.

2. Election of Chair

3. Election of Vice-Chairs

4. AOB

6. Date of next meeting

- Wednesday 14th September, 4 – 6pm 

Chair’s Welcomes

Attendees

Earl of Clancarty (Chaired the meeting in place of Sharon Hodgson MP)

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

Lord Freyberg

Baroness Nye

David Warburton MP

Baroness Young of Hornsey

Lord Addington;

Sophie Leach, NSEAD

Election of Officers:

Sharon Hodgson MP to continue as Chair

Vice-Chairs: Earl of Clancarty, Lord Cormack, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Baroness Nye, Baroness Goudie, Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury, Tulip Siddiq MP, Lord Valerian Freyberg

Secretariat

NSEAD (National Society for Education in Art and Design) to remain as Secretariat

AOB

The Art, Craft and Design in Education APPG will be holding a summit in the Attlee Suite from 2 – 4pm on Tuesday 11 October 2016. Plans are underway for an interactive event, bringing together creative APPGs across parliament.

Following discussion of the summit, attendees agreed that further collaboration between all creative APPGs should be a priority over the coming year. We agreed to plan a strategy meeting, bringing together parliamentarians and secretariats of all creative APPGs.

Sophie Leach presented proposed plans for next year’s APPG meetings. Discussion followed in which:

- Lord Addington spoke of the parallels between the issues faced by those promoting participation and performance in sports and those promoting the creative arts. We should aim to encourage DCMS to talk to the DfE.

- Baroness Lola Young raised the need to include the Arts, Health and Wellbeing APPG, as recent research shows that the education system is not providing enough people with the skills this sector needs.

Attendees from the House of Lords noted that, due to the timings of Lords Questions, it would be better not the schedule meetings before 3.30pm, and to schedule meetings in the Palace if possible.

Date of the Next Meeting

We will have an APPG meeting on Wednesday 14th September, 4 – 6pm

Click here to download the minutes as a .Docx file