Jointly commissioned by Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Roberts’ review concluded that while there is a rich array of creativity work in pre and main school activity, more needed to be done to co-ordinate and support this.
The key action points of the response are:
- to explore the idea of Creative Portfolios for young people;
- to build Creativity into Early Years, Extended Schools and Building Schools for the Future;
- to support schools to develop partnerships with the Cultural and the Creative Industries;
- and, to map current access and progression routes in creative disciplines.
The response also sets out a clear definition of Creativity, why it is important, and where it thrives.
Culture Minister David Lammy said:
"Paul Roberts’ report showed just how important Arts and Culture are in exciting young minds. Ensuring that our young people have the right creative skills is vital to this country’s future economic prosperity. The actions that we have committed to taking today, which range from Early Years right through to pathways to the Creative Industries, are significant steps on the way to making this happen.”
Schools Minister Andrew Adonis added:
"Participation by children and young people in creative activities clearly has intrinsic value in itself, but we also know of direct benefits in terms of pupil engagement, self-confidence and motivation. This also has a positive effect on attainment and achievement.”
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Leading educationalist, Paul Roberts, said
“I was delighted to be asked to conduct the initial review and that the Government has welcomed the report so wholeheartedly. The Government response is a good start in creating a really coherent framework that gives all young people creative opportunities. The crucial test will come in implementing the actions set out in this response – and I’m very pleased to have been asked to Chair the Board that will make sure this happens.”
One of the immediate actions the Government is taking is to setting up a new Creative and Cultural Education Advisory Board. This board, jointly sponsored by DCMS and DfES, will have representatives from all the major stakeholders working in this area. It will have the responsibility for implementing the actions agreed as part of the Government’s response to the Roberts report and building a more coherent creative and cultural offer for all young people. Paul Roberts has agreed to Chair this board.
Notes to editors
- The Creative Economy Programme, launched in November 2005 has identified education and skills as one of the main drivers to the productivity and growth of the creative economy. In recognition of the importance of creativity for the UK's future, Paul Roberts was asked to provide a clear set of assumptions to inform the basis of the Government's future policy on creativity. Paul Roberts is a leading educationalist and currently Director of Strategy and Children's Services from IdeA (Improvement and Development Agency). He led the independent Review on a pro bono basis.
- His report provides a framework for creativity, which starts with Early Years, develops through mainstream education and leads to pathways into the Creative Industries. It recognised the rich array of creative opportunities for young people but argued for a more coherent "creativity offer". The Creativity Review examined key issues such as:
- The role of partnerships between schools and the creative and cultural sector;
- The opportunities for creative activity in Extended Schools and Early Years' settings;
- The development of a Creative Portfolio to celebrate each young person's creative achievements;
- The education workforce's role in developing creativity;
- Clearer pathways into Creative Industries for young people;
- Creating spaces for creative activity through the Building Schools for the Future programme;
- Ensuring Creativity is prominent in the Every Child Matters Framework.
- The Culture and Creative Education Advisory Board will run initially for one year and will meet four times during that year. We expect the first meeting of the group to take place in January 2007.
- A full copy of the Government’s response, together with the Terms of Reference for the Advisory Group is available on this website.
