Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the amount of time allocated in schools for art education, and the number of professionally qualified staff available to teach it; what guidance he is giving to local authorities regarding these matters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. BoysonIt is for the schools themselves to determine how much time to allocate to particular subjects within the curriculum. There is no evidence of any shortage of qualified teachers of art and light craft. "The School Curriculum"—Her Majesty's Stationery Office, March 1981—points out the importance of subjects such as art, music and drama, and recommends that pupils should retain throughout the period of compulsory education some aesthetic activity within their programme of work.