Help save the arts

I'm head of RE in a comprehensive school.

I promise you, RE is an academic subject...

Religious Studies looks at the supernatural beliefs and rituals of various cultures, sects and countries. It does not teach the truth behind these beliefs, unlike a factual subject like History which teaches how to use evidence to uncover truths. Construction of a good argument/essay/thesis will be taught in the English EBacc . The history of Christianity can be taught in the History EBacc just like Greek/Roman/Norse mythology. A teacher explained to me that RE is to promote tolerance between children who have parents with different beliefs. It would destroy the academic EBacc to include the easy option of a non academic subject like RE and we might as well keep the GCSE system.

Domestic Science is what used ti be called cookery, but it has a PC name now.

If your excerpt from Cambridge University about about Arts courses is correct then it confirms my point ie RE is not included as one of their good keystone subjects. It can still be studied but should not be in the core.

Yes, I am suggesting RE ranks alongside other academic subjects. Indeed, Cambridge University in their Subject Matters document say :

Are you inclined towards the arts or social sciences?
If you think you would like to study an arts or social sciences course at university but you are not sure
which one, then English Literature?, History, languages and Mathematics are good ?keystone?
subjects: choosing one or more of these will provide a good foundation for your subject combination.
Other good choices to combine these subjects with include: an additional language, Ancient History,
Classical Civilisation, Economics, Further Mathematics?, Geography, Philosophy, Religious
Studies and sciences (Biology, Chemistry or Physics).

RE is exactly like History - you need factual knowledge and the ability to construct well-argued discursive pieces. And what on earth is "Domestic Science"?

RE is one of those areas you have to study to tick the PC box, very similar to citizenship and domestic science etc its not an academic subject, you cant be seriously suggesting it ranks alongside Maths, Physics, History etc. Your missing the point that the EBAcc is for academic subjects.

I wouldn't make the EBacc compulsory for SEN and I guess dyslexia might fall into that area depending on how severe it is. It could be that teachers are not providing him with enough support and using it as an excuse.... But I stick with the belief that everybody should learn a MFL (from primary), its a global world out there.

Having a compulsory EBacc wouldn't affect a shy pupil, they could still do Drama.

Ebacc shouldn't be compulsory because not everyone can access all subjects. MFL for example can be excrutiatingly frustrating for some (my severly dyslexic son, for example).

Arts cover such a wide range and can really add to a useful education. How many academic children are painfully shy? Drama might help them a great deal and actually be one of the most important for real life use if it allows them to come out of their shell. Music is a wonderful art too. But all these are child-specific, so it is more understandable that they are not ebacced.

RE should not be ranked alongside citizenship and domestic science.

I agree as well, that if you have an aptitude, Art GCSE can add to the talents of some children but its no substitute for getting a decent education.

Ebacc hasn't started so its still early to judge whether or not its 'perfect' but I think we all agree the GCSE format needed changed.

What will be critical in its success is if politicians hold their nerve and don't give in to cries to dilute the focus of the EBacc on academic excellence. If you start including life style choices in the core like, RE, citizenship, domestic science etc, you will end up with another discredited exam system.

The five areas chosen should give most kids a decent education and they have plenty of room to fit all their other choices in around that. Remember the EBacc isn't compulsory although I certainly think it should be.

While I agree that including an Art at GCSE creates a more well rounded education, it does not suit every student to have to do one and they should not have to. I recall being made to do and Art at school (where I scored CSE 2) when I really wanted to study Chemistry (where I was certainly capable of a good O Level standard).

Ebacc isn't perfect, RE ought to be a humanity in my view and there should be an exception for some SEN from having to do a MFL, but the system covers 6 GCSEs and there are plenty more opportunities available (most do 9 or 10 subjects) to include an Art of some sort.

Certainly Arts will still be on the curriculum although not as many may choose them - that is a possibility.

I think you are mistaken, art subjects aren't being removed from the curriculum. The EBacc subjects are going to be preferred but optional subjects to try and reverse the decline of our education system. Arts subject will still be available as they always have. Looks like a big improvement to the degraded GCSE system we have now.