A new chapter for arts education

From oracy and critical thinking to creative expression, the reformed curriculum promises high standards and broad horizons.

Wednesday, 5th November 2025

The final report of the government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAAR) has been published, alongside the Government’s response. We welcome these bold reforms as a vital opportunity to secure every child’s right to a rich arts education.

In particular, we support the decision to end the EBacc and to restore genuine parity between arts subjects, humanities and languages, whilst urging continued focus on quality, equity and workforce capacity to ensure that all children – wherever they live – can access and benefit from creative and cultural learning both within and beyond the school day.

We welcome the recognition that arts subjects are an entitlement for every child, and that parity between the arts, humanities and languages is essential to a broad and balanced curriculum.

The removal of the EBacc and reform of Progress 8 are brave and necessary decisions. We know these changes will attract challenge in some quarters, but they are the right steps to broaden opportunity and reassert the value of creative and cultural learning. They open doors that, for too long, have been closed to working-class children – those most often locked out of participation and progression in the arts.

We remain disappointed that Dance and Drama are still not recognised as discrete subjects up to Key Stage 3, but welcome the proposals to strengthen their guidance within PE and English and to review GCSEs in Dance, Drama, Music and Art & Design.

These reviews are long overdue and vital to ensuring qualifications reflect contemporary practice and provide clear pathways into further study and the creative industries.

In these proposed changes, we see the potential to realise something that Curious Minds has long fought for: a genuine entitlement to a rich arts education for every child and young person. For us, true entitlement is about quality as well as access. It means ensuring that arts education and cultural learning are embedded within and through the National Curriculum, while enrichment opportunities extend learning beyond it.

These two strands – curriculum and enrichment – are distinct but equally essential. Together, they define what a full and fair cultural education should look like. Defining and delivering both with clarity and quality will be key to closing the gaps that persist in access to creative and cultural opportunity, and will rely on giving schools and their partners the support, expertise and workforce they need to make it real.

As a national sector support and brokerage organisation, Curious Minds stands ready to help realise these ambitions – working with Government, schools, Teaching Artists and cultural partners to ensure that quality and equity go hand in hand, and that every child can enjoy a rich, inspiring cultural education that lasts a lifetime.

Responding to the publication of the report and the Government's response, Curious Minds' CEO, Derri Burdon, said:

"The promised reforms recognise what many of us in the sector have long known: that high-quality arts education builds the confidence, creativity and critical thinking young people need to flourish in life and work.

"Delivering this vision will depend on strong partnerships between schools, Teaching Artists and cultural organisations.

"At Curious Minds, we’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of skilled creative educators working alongside teachers to enrich learning. We look forward to working with government to understand the detail behind the new enrichment entitlement and to help shape an approach that ensures every pupil, in every place, can access the rich cultural and creative experiences they deserve."