Julian Lloyd Webber concerned about EBacc

24 September 2012, 12:24

The cellist has voiced his support for musicians who are concerned about the recent education reforms.

Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber has raised his voice in support of music teachers who are concerned about the impact of the planned new English Baccalaureate (EBacc) qualification. The new qualification is set to take the place of GCSEs in 2017.

The Department of Education have said the EBacc will contain English, maths, history, sciences, and a language. Many musicians are worried classical music, which will not be a core subject, will increasingly be considered a middle-class, privileged activity.
 
The Schools Music Association (SMA) and the National Association of Music Educators have issued a joint public letter expressing their fear the change for secondary schools "will effectively mean the end of the teaching of creative subjects".
 
The SMA wants an assurance from the education secretary Michael Gove that Britain's music education will be protected. There is still a question mark over exactly what changes the EBacc will bring for creative subjects.

Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians, 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."

Are you worried about how the EBacc will affect music education? Let us know.