Curriculum and Assessment Review

Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill Excerpts

Thursday 26th March 2026 Grand Committee

[Baroness Garden of Frognal (LD)]

My Lords, we broadly welcome this report as it shows more commitment to the arts and creative subjects, and sees the end of the EBacc, which focused so heavily on academic learning. As the noble Lord, Lord Freyberg, said, it has been sad indeed to see music disappear from many schools, along with drama, dance and art, particularly as the creative industries are sources of pride and economic well-being in the country.

Students will welcome the greater choice offered. There will be challenges in ensuring that the depleted teaching workforce for these subjects is re-energised, with more teachers being recruited. Can the Minister say how teacher recruitment is going for the creative sector? We also need reform of GCSE English and maths—neither currently encourages young people to pursue these subjects—and we continue to face an acute shortage of science teachers, particularly physics teachers. Do the Government have a plan to remedy that?

We are concerned by the new V-level proposals. T-levels have not caught on as the previous Government hoped. BTECs are understood and accepted by employers, colleges and universities. It takes a while for a new qualification, particularly a vocational one, to become known and accepted. I was working for City & Guilds when NVQs, or national vocational qualifications, were introduced—remember them? It was said that they would simplify the vocational offerings and be the lasting solution to the academic/vocational divide, but where are they now?

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill) (Lab)]

My Lords, there is a Division in the House. The Committee will adjourn for 10 minutes, but these votes may be back to back, so we may adjourn for 30 minutes; we will have to see what happens with the voting.