Creativity, curiosity and professional artists in schools

Responding to a concerning decrease in creative opportunities in schools I will be undertaking research investigating how artists impact pupils' skills development (with a focus on 21st Century skills: creativity, curiosity and critical thinking) and attainment. This will be supported by Goldsmiths' Psychology department and Curious Minds, a leading cultural education charity based in the North of England.

Engaging with arts and culture has been shown to improve wellbeing, reduce loneliness and increase civic engagement. In schools, investing time and resources into creative activities, both curricular and extra-curricular, can improve attendance and engagement, attainment and future employability or likelihood to continue to further education. Yet, since 2010, the number of teaching hours for creative subjects in English secondary schools has decreased by a fifth and students choosing arts subjects for GCSE has reduced by 40 percent.

The increasing lack of access to high quality arts and culture in UK state schools is a social justice issue contributing to the growing socioeconomic gap in educational outcomes and future life chances.