Although I don't have the answer to this question, I'd like to shed some light on this issue as it’s a common problem in schools around the country and unfortunately, it’s a problem I've noticed in my own school as well.
Recent studies show a shortage in the number of teachers needed to teach arts subjects, meanwhile there is a high demand for teachers in subjects such as mathematics, which clearly highlights the divide between the two. A lack of teachers can lead to a drop in students studying these subjects, which consequently leads to a lack of arts subjects available at A-Level or GCSE.
It may not be blatantly obvious at first, but there is certainly more support offered to those pursuing a career in STEM, medicine, law or a humanity. This could be due to the fact that some of these career paths require tests to be sat in advance, which is perfectly understandable but it could also be due to the common misconception that arts subjects taken at a higher level will not lead to a successful career in the future.
This is a problem as there are several careers in the creative industry that ensure a happy and successful career. But do we provide support to those considering these career paths? Are they being promoted in schools? Overall, we should be encouraging those who choose to head down a creative pathway as we never know, they may become the next Van Gogh or Steven Spielberg.
Mia Leo-Andoh, St Philomena's
