The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft and Design in Education
Abstract
The Art Now Inquiry explores the current state of art and design education across the four nations; however, the focus is primarily on England where there was more survey data to draw on. It was commissioned by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft and Design in Education in response to concerns about the reduction in opportunities for children and young people to access high-quality art and design education. The Inquiry spans early years, primary and secondary phases of schooling.
The Inquiry ran between Spring 2020 and Spring 2023 and this report includes a rapid evidence review of the benefits of art and design education, a literature review of art teaching and teacher education, a national survey of 1,860 art and design teachers and testimonies from two APPG evidence sessions.
Drawing on each of these sources, the Art Now Inquiry report makes the case for art and design education, and the critical importance of investing in a diverse subject-specialist workforce. It starts with an examination of teacher education in art and design which is essential for equipping teachers with the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence to deliver the curriculum. The Inquiry goes behind the numbers to explore the working conditions, wellbeing and career intentions of art and design teachers. The findings provide a health check on the training and retention of art and design teachers, and highlight the time and resources needed to support access to high-quality provision of art, craft and design education. Ofsted defines a high-quality curriculum in art and design as one that provides the conditions for pupils to develop a love of the subject that is both intellectually challenging and creatively demanding
