Today, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) issued a statement urging the government to go further with its school reforms. The CBI stresses the importance of academia in its recommendations (which is referred to as maths and science). But it also strongly recommends more practical skills-based learning. Nowhere are the arts mentioned.
In fact, CBI’s director of education and skills Susan Anderson suggests four priorities for the government. These centre around increasing attainment and helping underperforming schools. One of her recommendations particularly stands out: “Greater support for schools and students to develop ‘employability’ skills.”
Indeed, James Fothergyll, head of education and skills for CBI, tells Total Politics that this is a “strong message from CBI. Now more than ever it’s important for young people to understand the skills needed by employers ... We need a greater focus on practical skills." CBI would also like to see more direct work from business in schools — it is recommending that businesses be allowed to directly influence education by being able to run “accredited groups of schools”.
Putting so much stress on employability, from a business lobbying firm, is hardly surprising. What is surprising, however, is that these recommendations mimic the government’s own treatment of education: the arts are being sidelined for practical skills.
The government has just announced more money to fund apprenticeships. Now, of course, a recession is likely to make government realise the economic incentives of having the next generation be ready for the job market. But, with the government recent attack on the arts (cuts to DCMS, universities and lecturers) the obvious question arises: if we centre education around practical skills and employment, what will happen to literature, history and art?
The business community and the government seem to think that answering this question is not a priority. Yes, the government should be taking CBI’s recommendations seriously but it should also make sure that, in the process, it doesn't leave the arts trailing behind. After all, a school is for learning not just for employability.