Janet Finch-Saunders:

13. Will the Minister make a statement on the Arts in Education Review?

John Griffiths:

The Minister for Education and Skills and I are currently considering Professor Smith’s report on arts in education in our schools. Our formal response to the report’s 12 recommendations will be published in the coming months.

Janet Finch-Saunders:

The arts in education review shows that only 26.2% of school-age children in Wales participated in revenue-funded organisation activity. The review further found that such organisations are finding it increasingly difficult to engage with schools to provide arts-based education, with arts either seen as low priority or non-essential. What is the Welsh Government doing to extend the arts to all areas?

John Griffiths:

Professor Smith’s arts in education review deals with these issues, both in setting out the current position and the evidence base for practice elsewhere in the world, and in making recommendations to take matters forward. As I stated in my initial answer, together with the Minister for Education and Skills, we will be formally responding in due course.