The cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and the actor and director Samuel West are among 70 leading figures from the arts accusing the government of squeezing creative subjects out of the secondary school curriculum.
Their criticism is backed by Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre, which represents the West End’s theatre owners, managers and producers. The heads of regional art galleries, creative universities and arts organisations have also added their names to the protest.
In a letter to The Times they urge ministers to think again about plans to make it compulsory for most teenagers to choose from a list of core academic GCSEs. Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, wants at least 90 per cent of teenagers to study a combination of