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A bill to Make provision for a minimum standard of access to creative and cultural education in state-funded schools in England and Wales; to promote partnerships between schools and the creative sector; and for connected purposes.

Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Part 1 — Creative education¶

1 Minimum creative and cultural education entitlement¶

(1) State-funded schools in England must provide pupils with a minimum entitlement to creative and cultural education.

(2) The minimum entitlement must not be less than—

(a) five hours weekly for pupils at Key Stages 1 and 2, and

(b) four hours weekly for pupils at Key Stage 3.

(3) In complying with the requirements under this section, a school must have regard to the need to provide a broad and balanced creative and cultural curriculum.

(4) State-funded schools must prepare a policy statement setting out—

(a) how the school will comply with their obligations under this section;

(b) the range of subjects and activities which will be made available as part of the creative and cultural education entitlement;

(5) The school may revise the policy statement from time to time.

(6) The school must publish the policy statement and any revised statement.

2 Creative access guarantee¶

(1) A state-funded school in England must take reasonable steps to ensure that every pupil has access to—

(a) live cultural or creative experiences in each academic year, and

(b) opportunities to present, perform, exhibit or otherwise share creative work.

(2) In complying with the obligation under subsection (1), a school may provide for different levels of access for pupils, depending on the pupil or their key stage, provided that the requirements in subsections (a) and (b) are met.

3 Financial assistance¶

(1) In order to support the provision of the minimum creative and cultural education entitlement, the Secretary of State may provide financial assistance to state-funded schools in England to support creative and cultural education, including for—

(a) instruments, materials, equipment or digital resources;

(b) workshops, visiting practitioners, specialist teaching or artist residencies;

(d) partnerships with creative sector organisations;

(e) activities to widen participation among disadvantaged pupils.

(2) In exercising functions under this section, the Secretary of State must have regard to the desirability of prioritising schools with higher proportions of disadvantaged pupils.

(3) Financial assistance under this section may be given subject to conditions.

4 Inspection¶

(1) In exercising inspection functions in relation to state-funded schools in England, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills must have regard to the extent and quality of creative and cultural education provided.

(2) The Secretary of State may issue and must publish guidance to the Chief Inspector about the inspection of creative and cultural education.

Part 2 — Engagement with the creative sector¶

5 Creative partnerships¶

(1) State-funded schools in England must take reasonable steps to develop partnerships with the creative sector, which may include theatres, galleries, museums, libraries, creative businesses, heritage and community organisations, and individual artists and practitioners.

(2) The Secretary of State must take steps to promote the partnerships referenced in subsection (1).

(3) The Secretary of State may provide financial or other assistance to support such partnerships.

6 Creative careers and apprenticeships¶

As part of the minimum creative and cultural education entitlement, and as part of any partnerships delivered in accordance with section 5, state-funded schools in England must provide pupils with information about pathways into creative and cultural careers, including through further and higher education, apprenticeships, and technical education, and self-employment in the creative sector.

Part 3 — Reporting and guidance¶

7 Reporting¶

The Secretary of State must, at least once each calendar year, lay before Parliament and publish a report on creative and cultural education in state-funded schools in England, including information about—

(a) access and participation rates among pupils;

(b) disparities in access by socioeconomic background;

(d) steps taken to promote creative partnerships and apprenticeships.

8 Guidance¶

(1) The Secretary of State must publish guidance to support state-funded schools in England in complying with this Act, which may include model frameworks, examples of best practice, and guidance on partnership working and improving access for disadvantaged pupils.

(2) A state-funded school in England must have regard to guidance published under this section.

Part 4 — Miscellaneous¶

9 Interpretation¶

In this Act—

creative and cultural education includes education in music, art and design, drama, dance, digital media, film, creative writing, design, craft and other creative or cultural subjects;

creative sector includes persons and organisations engaged in creative, cultural, artistic, heritage or design activities;

disadvantaged pupil means a pupil who falls within a description specified by the Secretary of State by regulations;

state-funded school means—

(a) a maintained school;

(b) an Academy school;

(d) a pupil referral unit;

(e) any other school or institution in receipt of government funding specified by the Secretary of State by regulations.

10 Regulations¶

(1) Regulations under this Act are to be made by statutory instrument.

(2) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this Act is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

11 Extent, commencement and short title¶

(1) This Act extends to England and Wales but applies to England only.

(2) This Act comes into force at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which it is passed.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Creative Education Access Act 2026.