Sir Alasdair was speaking at this week’s Closing The Gap debate, a major conference attended by over 200 teachers and education professionals, which was hosted by the education charity FILMCLUB and Save The Children UK. He said:
“The big, big danger of the next few years is that we have a ‘core’ of education… and we have the ‘additionality’… and the core is seen as the critical bit, and the additional bit is the soft-target, and that’s where the cuts will take place. I believe very strongly that if that is what does happen, in five or ten years time the gap won’t even be keeping pace – the gap will be widening.”
The debate was organised in recognition of the fact that the gap in achievement between pupils from rich and poor families has remained stubbornly consistent in the UK, and to discuss ways in which cultural extra-curricular activities such as the nationwide FILMCLUB scheme – which provides 175,000 children with free access to films every week – can help to close it.
A poll of the delegates found overwhelming support for the role the arts and culture can play in educational achievement, with 97% agreeing with the statement that these activities are “as important” as science and maths. This added strength to research into the educational impact of film clubs, published at the conference, which found that 93.8% of teachers believe their film club opens up access to culture for those who may not otherwise benefit from cultural experiences, and that it in turn increases members’ critical skills (80%).*
The conference was chaired by FILMCLUB Chair Lord Michael Bichard, whose opening speech also highlighted the need to offer socially deprived children free cultural experiences within school, in order to switch them on to learning. Lord Bichard, former Permanent Secretary of the Employment Department and founder director of the Institute for Government in 2008, said:
“In too many schools, too many children, have been switched off… They do opt out, either physically by playing truant or mentally, by just zoning out. I believe we need to offer them opportunities that engage and excite them, to bring them back in.”
The Closing The Gap conference comprised debates around why the achievement gap is so wide in the UK and how engagement can lead to achievement. Other speakers included Doncaster headteacher Janice Middleton and Save The Children’s Simone Spray as well as contributions from teachers and students from around the UK.
Speaking before the conference, Janice Middleton of Edlington Victoria School said:
“This free initiative [FILMCLUB] is a great asset to our school. It is extending children’s experiences in an extremely poor area and providing opportunities they wouldn’t normally have."
