'Five hours of culture' planned for schools

Every child will take part in five hours of cultural activities each week under a Government plan outlined today.

Ministers are concerned that children from poorer families miss out on top art exhibitions, concerts or theatre productions because their parents cannot afford tickets.

Pilot projects costing £25 million will aim to develop the artistic talents of youngsters in 10 areas of England with a guarantee of five hours of "high quality" culture every week.

The scheme aims to nurture the next generation of artists and musicians and give all children more time to develop their own creative skills at school and in their free time.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham launched the plan at the Young Vic Theatre, which gives free tickets and drama workshops to thousands of young people from poor areas of south London.

Mr Balls said: "All children and young people should have the chance to experience top quality culture - whether that is seeing a play or dance performance, learning a musical instrument or producing some creative writing.

"Many of us remember the first ever live music we heard or the first ever performance we saw.

"I want all young people to have the chance to experience and take part in creative activities to help them learn and develop."

He said a new week-long festival will allow schools to celebrate the artistic talents of their pupils.

The pilot projects will guarantee every child in the 10 areas five hours a week in school and outside for cultural activities. The aim will be to extend the scheme across England in future.

While the Government hopes the initiative will help develop future stars, it is intended to help all young people learn how to be creative and enjoy the arts.

Pupils will take part in a range of activities, such as performing on stage, visiting galleries, museums and theatres, and gaining experience of film-making or TV.

Learning to play and perform with musical instruments and creative writing will also form part of the programme.

Local areas across England, including some of the most deprived parts of the country, will bid for a share of the £25 million funding for the pilots.

Ministers have already said pupils should take part in up to five hours of sport every week and they aim to give children the same amount of time for cultural activities.

The proposal was first announced last year in the Government's Children's Plan, which set out the goals for education policy over the next decade.

The document said: "We will work towards a position where, no matter where they live or what their background, all children and young people have the opportunities to get involved in top quality cultural opportunities in and out of school.

"Children feel that they miss out if they or their families cannot afford these activities," it said.

Last year the Commons Education Select Committee called on the Government to put creativity at the heart of every school.

The MPs criticised schools ministers for not giving enough priority to creativity in education.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, was sceptical about the plans.

"I don't see how we can offer five hours of cultural activity plus five hours of sport, plus the new responsibility for community cohesion and give pupils their lessons at the same time," he warned on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"We can't just go on placing extra burdens on schools all the time."

And he added: "The money that is going to be announced for this pilot scheme doesn't look very adequate - it's about £15 per pupil per year. You can't do very much with that.

"Schools do try to do a lot in this area already, but we can't work miracles."

Mr Burnham insisted: "We can do more and indeed we should do more."

Pressed to define what cultural activities pupils should be offered, he replied: "The chance to perform on a stage, to learn a musical instrument, to write creatively."

Challenged that they should already be taught this, he replied: "You can do even more if you allow young people to receive advice from the professionals in the business or if you take them to the opera, give them the chance to perform on the stage."

He conceded that the five-hour target was an "aspiration", adding: "There are practicalities, there are difficulties, there are issues to be discussed, there are problems in fitting all this in the national curriculum."

But it was still the right thing to do, he argued.