Independent Review of ACE

On 19 December, the UK government published its Independent Review of Arts Council England (ACE), by Baroness Margaret Hodge. These Drama & Theatre Education Alliance (DTEA) welcomes the report, particularly in reference to Section F: The Role Of Education.

The report acknowledges how "creative subjects are increasingly viewed as optional, extra-curricular activities", and recommends that "creative education should be central to every child’s experience, throughout their school journey", recommending that the Department For Education (DfE) should build creative education into the National Curriculum, which reflects recommendations in the recent Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR).

The DTEA welcomes the recommendation for ACE and DfE should work more closely together, alongside the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), to deliver these improvements to creative education and opportunities for young people.

One of Baroness Hodge's key recommendations is the establishment of "Visual and Performing Arts Education Hubs, [which] could help schools to reverse the decline in arts education by developing artist-led curriculum support for each artform, providing continuing professional development for staff, and developing cultural experiences and extra-curricular activities. These hubs should be badged under the new National Centre for Arts and Music Education."

At present, little is known about the National Centre for Arts and Music Education, which is still out to tender.

Other recommendations include the setting up of a fund to subsidise arts trips for state schools and artist in residence programmes, both of which could enable children and young people to engage with and learn from industry professionals who are experts in their field.

While the Independent Review of ACE makes some excellent recommendations, the test will be in whether these are taken up by the UK government, and, if so, how they will be implemented.

Earlier in 2025, the DTEA published its National Plan for Drama and Theatre Education, which mirrors both the CAR and Independent Review of ACE recommendations.

The DTEA welcomes any opportunity to work with ACE, DfE, and DCMS to explore how these recommendations can be delivered.