The decline in primary school arts education is a ripple effect of Michael Gove’s policies (‘Shocking’ decline in art education in primary schools, survey shows, 11 January). It is ironic, of course, that the means of learning at that age are primarily “artistic”. Ed Vaizey, David Cameron’s minister of state for culture, in his vacuous 2016 culture white paper, stated that new, gold-standard GCSEs and A-levels had been introduced in art and design, music, drama, dance and design and technology, and affirmed his full confidence in the policies of the Department for Education.
The then secretary of state was Nicky Morgan, who had warned young people that choosing to study arts subjects at school could limit career choices and “hold them back for the rest of their lives”.
Christopher Gordon
Former chief executive, English Regional Arts Boards
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