The Impact of the Arts on Memory A study by M.M. Hardiman and colleagues, published in Trends in Neuroscience and Education, reports on a randomised control trial carried out in Atlanta, USA, in 2013. The study found that arts-integrated instruction significantly improves the long-term retention of academic content, offering compelling…
OFSTED has backed a ban on social media for under-16s, with its chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver signalling support for an Australian-style restriction. Sir Martyn Oliver has warned that social media is chipping away at children’s attention spans, eroding the patience needed for learning and contributing to disrespectful attitudes and…
On 9 January 2026, The Times published a powerful article by Richard Morrison highlighting a stark and troubling reality: in some English state schools, spending on arts education has fallen to as little as £1 per pupil per year. It is a figure that should stop us all in our…
The Times Magazine on Dec 20 carried an article about Dr Nichani, a consultant at Leicester Children’s Hospital who has been doing research in to the reason ADHD diagnoses have been rising. He is horrified by the surge in anxiety, attention deficit disorders and social withdrawal in children. He says…
The “Arts in Schools: Foundations for the Future” report (https://www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Arts-in-Schools-full-report-2023.pdf) highlights that while arts are crucial for well-being, skills, and academics, access to the arts in English state schools is declining due to narrow accountability, creating a two-tier system. Key findings stress the need for a balanced education valuing the “whole…
Alison Balsom warns of the decline in music education in UK state schools. World-renowned trumpeter Alison Balsom, who will perform at this year’s Last Night of the Proms and has been presenting the Proms concerts on the BBC, recently gave an interview to The Times (30 August). When asked about…
To mark the publication of a major study into arts-rich primary schools, Professor Pat Thomson, the report’s co-author, presents its key findings, and reflects on what is needed to build an arts-rich school system. The RAPS report was launched at the Cultural Learning Alliance’s first webinar on 25 February. CLA’s annual…
Scottish pupil, Rebecca Young, who designed a solar-powered backpack with an electric blanket inside to help homeless people has been names on the first Time magazine Girls of the Year list. The budding engineer asked to be photographed in her grungy style in line with her dream of finding fame…
CATS is talking to Oxfordshire County Council about how the arts can help children with mental health problems. This arises from an approach from the County Council following on from a recent report the County received about the mental health of Oxfordshire’s children. The report said: Children living in poorer…
The Royal Anniversary Trust have published their Coronation Challenge CreaTech report, a year-long research initiative commissioned by Department of Culture Media and Sport emphasising the importance of the creative industries with technology and how they inter-relate. The report called for more time for the arts in primary schools. In the…
