FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER FOLLOWS

Dear Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,

We wish to express our concerns about the review of secondary school examinations being undertaken by the Secretary of State for Education.As you will know, many influential figures from the world of the arts, design, sport and industry have expressed their concerns about the limited remit of the English Baccalaureate.Whilst not being opposed to the reform of the system of examinations, nor to the drive to raise standards, we are concerned that the current consultation on the introduction of English Baccalaureate Certificates is too limited and that decisions are being made too quickly.We need an examination system which ensures pupils receive a rigorous, broad and balanced curriculum. We do not believe the current proposals for EBCs will do that. By failing to give parity to high quality creative and vocational subjects, as well as sport, these reforms will jeopardise our children’s education and undermine the economic and cultural health of our nation.

We are therefore calling for the consultation period to be extended in both time and content to ensure any concerns are addressed before steps are taken to implement EBCs. This extended consultation should fully engage with the views of parents, students, governors, businesses, teachers, head teachers and other concerned stakeholders before any changes are made.A small group of the signatories to this letter would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further explain our concerns and discuss ways in which the Government could initiate a national conversation about examination reform.

Russell Hobby, General Secretary, NAHT Christine Blower, General Secretary, NUT Deborah Annetts, CEO, Incorporated Society of Musicians Joe Macleod, IncludeDesign Ruth Mackenzie, CBE Sandy Nairne, Director, National Portrait Gallery Neil Constable, Chief Executive, Shakespeare’s Globe Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director, National Theatre Lord Puttnam, Chair of the Cultural Learning Alliance Anthony Sargent, General Director, The Sage Gateshead David Pickard, General Director, Glyndebourne Gillian Moore, Head of Classical Music, Southbank Centre Nadia Stern, Chief Executive, Rambert Dance Company Clive Grinyer, Director, Cisco IBSG Dick Powell, CEO and Founder of Seymourpowell, Chairman of D&AD Ben Reason, Founding Director, Livework Oliver King, Co-founder, Engine Simon Gill, Executive Creative Director, LBI John Sinclair & Matt Miller, Founders, Ustwo Studio Limited John Mathers, CEO, Design Council Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Craft Council Nigel Carrington, Vice Chancellor, University of the Arts London Professor Anthony Dunne, Head of Design Interactions, Royal College of Art Graham Brown-Martin, Founder, Learning Without Frontiers Michael Smith, Director, Cog Design Andrew Chowns, CEO, Directors UK Professor Gavin Henderson CBE, Principal, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Sue Robertson, Principal, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Mark Featherstone-Witty, CEO, The Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts Sara Matthews, Director, Central School of Ballet Chris Keates, General Secretary, NASUWT Mary Bousted, General Secretary, Association of Teachers and Lecturers Sally Hunt, General Secretary, UCU Sue Williamson, Chief Executive, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Jan Hodges, CEO, The Edge Foundation Dr John Steers, Chair of Trustees, Council for Subject Associations Annette Smith, Chief Executive, Association for Science Education Lesley Butterworth, General Secretary, National Society for Education in Art and Design Richard Green, Chief Executive, Design and Technology Association Jay Osgerby, BarberOsgerby Deyan Sudjic is director of the Design Museum, London Angus Montgomery, editor, Design Week Gerry Leonidas, Senior Lecturer in Typography, University of Reading Patrice Baldwin, Chair, National Drama Dr Simon Gibbons, Chair, National Association for the Teaching of English Pete Fraser, Chair, Media Education Association Emma Knights, Chief Executive, National Governors’ Association Dr Hilary Emery, Chief Executive, National Children’s Bureau Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, TUC Jon Richards, National Secretary Education and Children’s Services, Unison Toni Pearce, Vice President (Further Education), NUS Jon Teckman, Student Voice/Phoenix Education Trust John Thompson, Chair, Leacan 14+ Nigel Utton, Chair, Heading for Inclusion Dr John Dunford, Chair, Whole Education Dave Boston, Chief Executive, The Schools Cooperative Society Flora Richards, Chair, Jewish Teachers Association Peter Nutkins, Headmaster, Humphrey Perkins School (Heads for the Arts) Peggy Farrington, Headteacher, Hanham High School (Heads for the Arts) Mary Boyle, Principal, Knole Academy (Heads for the Arts) Catherine McCormack, Headteacher, South Wirral High School, (Heads for the Arts) Elaine Buchanan, Associate Headteacher, Hillview School for Girls (Heads for the Arts) Emma Thomas, Head of Learning and Engagement, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art Samantha Lane, Co-Director of Almeida Projects, Almeida Theatre Simon Thomsett, Chief Executive, Fairfield Halls Donna Lynas, Director, Wysing Arts Centre Paul Hoskins, Music Director, Rambert Dance Company Caroline Miller, Director, Dance UK Linda Jasper, Director, Youth Dance England Judy Evans & Sue Trotman, Joint Chairs, National Dance Teachers Association Ian Smallbone and Kathryn Enticott, Managing Directors, IMG Artists Stephen Lumsden, Managing Director, Intermusica Julian Bird, Chief Executive, Society of London Theatre & Theatrical Management Association Mark Pemberton, Chief Executive, Association of British Orchestras Terry Luddington, CEO, British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech Trevor Horsewood, Coordinator, The Visual Arts and Galleries Association Tamizan Savill, Development Manager, The Association for Contemporary Jewellery Gilane Tawadros, Chief Executive, Design and Artists Copyright Society Janie Orr, Chief Executive, EMI Music Sound Foundation Henry Little, CEO, Orchestras Live. Rosemary Johnson, Executive Director, Royal Philharmonic Society Mike Hally, Vice Chair, Radio Independents Group Sarah Gee, Indigo-Ltd, Managing Partner Russell Martin, Programme Manager, Artquest Jonty Tarbuck, Deputy Director, Locus+ Dominic Mcgonigal, Chairman, C8 Associates Zoë Jackson, Founder and Managing Director, Living the Dream Gillian Nicol, Head of Programmes and Editor, a-n The Artists Information Company Christine Payne, Equity, General Secretary John Smith, General Secretary, Musicians' Union Paul McManus, Chief Executive, Music Industries Association Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive, BPI Rachel Greaves, General Secretary, Association of British Choral Directors Scott Price, President, Music Masters and Mistresses Association Fiona Pendreigh, Chair, National Association of Music Educators Dr Douglas Coombes MBE, Composer and Conductor, School Music Association Murray McLachlan, Chair, European Piano Teachers Association UK Chris Taylor, Director, New Writing South Neal Lawson, Chair, Compass Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner