Education Minister Promises local MP more music and sport in schools

12.17.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st May 2003

In a statement to parliament today the Secretary of State for Education announced that he was substantially reducing the burden of target setting and testing in primary schools.

This is in response to pressure from both teachers and parents that the present target setting regime is undermining morale in schools and is over centralised.

Vincent Cable was given an opportunity by the Speaker to raise with the Secretary of State the protest of Britain's leading musicians that music is being driven off the curriculum by relentless testing in core subjects. Sport and art also suffer. The Minister promised Vincent Cable that the curriculum would be adjusted to allow for more music, sport and art.

Vincent Cable said: "Our local schools have very high standards in terms of SATS tests and feature at the top of national league tables. This is fine as far as it goes, but parents also need to be assured that children are receiving a broad education. It is very damaging in the long term if schools don't provide a basic foundation in the Arts, or if children become obese through lack of exercise".