Just to echo Nick's words that GEM is involved at policy level – GEM sit on the steering group of the Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) and we speak regularly to colleagues in the DfE.

There are things we can all be doing to push to get the broad and balanced curriculum our children need. The CLA newsletter last month listed six which I've pasted below. 

If you haven't signed up to be a member of the CLA (it's fast and free) please do – you can also opt in to get our newsletter which included information on policy, consultations and the like.

Sam


Samantha Cairns

Cultural Learning Alliance

www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk

 

Please note that I work part time at the CLA and may take a few days to respond to your message

 

The Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) is a collective voice working to ensure that all children and young people have meaningful access to culture in this difficult economic climate. 

Sign up today to get involved: http://www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/sign-up

Follow us on Twitter: @culturelearning

Follow us on Facebook at the Cultural Learning Alliance page

Join the Cultural Learning Alliance professional network at LinkedIn


http://www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/news.aspx?id=93

1. Brief your board and governors

Your Chairs, governors and board members are key influencers and we need them to make this case to politicians, the press, headteachers, funders, policy makers, decision makers and advisors. We also need them to recruit the business community to this cause – we need voices from the commercial sector speaking up about the importance of the arts and culture.

We have put together the attached document, which sets out the issues and arguments around the EBacc and we are asking you to table and distribute it at your next meeting. 

We know this is a complex issue, if you would like us to talk to your Chair directly about this, just get in touch: [log in to unmask]. 

 

2. Brief your Communications team

If you have a communications or marketing team that talks to the press or puts together positions for your organisation, give them these messages so that they can incorporate them in their work.

 

3. Use the evidence

Use our Key Research Findings, our ImagineNation document and our Drama in schools document to make the case to your local school and community. Tell us what other evidence and statistics you need.


4. Campaign!

Sign up to the ISM’s Bacc for the Future Campaign. It is calling for the Education Select Committee to launch an enquiry into the EBacc and to interrogate why the arts and cultural subjects haven’t been included.

 

5. Write to your MP

This webpage tells you how.

Use the board briefing and the evidence to help you make your case and ask your MP to write to the Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove) on your behalf. The system is structured so that he will have to respond to you.

 

6. Respond to the DfE’s current consultation on Key Stage 4 Qualifications

This consultation asks key questions about the EBacc and its structure. You can find all the information about how to respond here.




From: Nick Winterbotham <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, 30 November 2012 13:12
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: An article by Colin Richards

Dear Jo and Gemmers

We certainly do have a role and are busy with this very subject today in our submission to the MA 2020 process.

In deciding which barricades to mount, we have to pick our allies and our battles.

Obviously we can't turn back a Government hell-bent on ideological reform.  However, we are in a strong position to point to and inform good practice.  We are working in England with ACE to develop a deeper understanding of the value of Heritage Learning.  

In the fullness, this has to set a standard on what our membership contributes, what it is up against, the operational radar we all wield in scanning the horizon and, in due course the numerical and anecdotal evidence for how we can help the sector in achieving transformation.

Facing the cuts juggernaut, we cannot stop it, but we can suggest how origanisations can help themselves by preserving the services and activities that bring them success.

Kindest

N




Dr Nick Winterbotham
Chair, GEM – the voice for heritage learning
 
M   07775774539
T   01283 840533
www.nickwinterbotham.com
 
Swiss Cottage
Market Place
Abbots Bromley
Staffs  WS15 3BP

-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Graham <[log in to unmask]>
To: GEM <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:22
Subject: Re: An article by Colin Richards

Well as people with a good grasp of history, we certainly have many interesting and varied models of protest to draw upon.

It does raise a serious question however about the role of GEM as a campaigning body. 

Does GEM have any access to the DfE to talk about the need for maintaining a broad and balanced curriculum? Alternatively does GEM have links to other sector bodies in heritage or education to mount a joint campaign, perhaps seeking to raise public awareness about the need for a broad and balanced curriculum?

I must admit that I had not put the picture together in quite the way Colin Richards does until now and I was a sleep walker!

Does GEM have a role to campaign?

Best

Jo

Jo Graham

Learning Unlimited
22 North Poulner Road
Ringwood
Hants
BH24 1SP

t:      01425 479438
m:    07970 062077


Care is taken to minimize the risk of virus transfer but Learning Unlimited cannot accept liability for any adverse consequences arising from this email or any attachments to it. This email may contain confidential material - if you receive it by mistake please return to sender and delete it from your system. Thank you!




From: Nick Winterbotham <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, 30 November 2012 12:13
To: GEM list <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: An article by Colin Richards

Dear Jo

This is very distressing and does indeed threaten the opportunity that GEM and Heritage Learning represents.

Time to reach for the pitchforks..

N

Dr Nick Winterbotham
Chair, GEM – the voice for heritage learning
 
M   07775774539
T   01283 840533
www.nickwinterbotham.com
 
Swiss Cottage
Market Place
Abbots Bromley
Staffs  WS15 3BP


-----Original Message-----
From: Jo Graham <[log in to unmask]>
To: GEM <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:07
Subject: FW: An article by Colin Richards

Dear all

I thought you might be interested in this article (ref below) that sums up recent proposed changes to the primary curriculum and sounds the alarm bell about the direction of travel. It's not just a wake up call for primary heads. As a sector we should not be silent on proposals that would move schools away from a broad and balanced curriculum and from the value of real world, real life, first hand experiences as a vital part of learning. It's difficult to see museum learning being valued in the kind of school system Richards predicts we will get unless something is done.

Whatever your politics, this article is worth thinking about and Richards is a well-respected establishment figure!

Best

Jo

Jo Graham

Learning Unlimited
22 North Poulner Road
Ringwood
Hants
BH24 1SP

t:      01425 479438
m:    07970 062077


Care is taken to minimize the risk of virus transfer but Learning Unlimited cannot accept liability for any adverse consequences arising from this email or any attachments to it. This email may contain confidential material - if you receive it by mistake please return to sender and delete it from your system. Thank you!




From: CPR Network <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: CPR Network <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, 30 November 2012 09:22
To: Jo Graham <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: An article by Colin Richards

Dear Colleague
You can download a copy of "Sleep-walking into the dark" by Colin Richards here, which is a longer version of an article "Heads need to wake up to the nightmare" that was published in the TES last Friday, November 23.

Colin expresses grave concern about the current and future pressures on primary headteachers and the impact this may have on high quality primary education.

Kind regards,

Alison

Alison Peacock
Network Leader, Cambridge Primary Review
@CPRnet
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