The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) has condemned the proposals for GCSE reform.
The society claims the proposals - which will increase pressure on pupils to study the six areas of maths, English, sciences, languages and humanities with no creative subjects - threatens “to damage not just our children’s education but also our economy.”
Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the ISM, said:
"This short sighted, wholesale attack on secondary music education will emasculate not only our world class music education system but also our entire creative economy which is estimated as contributing up to 10% of our GDP.
"In its present form, intellectual and rigorous subjects like music are nowhere to be seen in the EBac [English Baccalaurate] offer. In its present form, the CBI, Creative Industries Council, ISM and Cultural Learning Alliance are all seeking reform of the EBac to include at least some of what the UK economy is good at: creativity and culture."
Diana Johnson, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music Education and a former education minister commented:
“Music education in the UK is world class, contributing hugely to our economy. The absence of music and any other creative or innovative subject from the EBac will further undermine the UK's progress in some of the growth generating industries of the future.”
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