This week: Art activism for equity, peace and wellbeing
YOUR FORTNIGHTLY NSEAD UPDATE
Q: What do creative industries and education have in common?
A: Inequity
Last week, the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Essex shared early analysis of data from the School Workforce Census. Their analysis confirms that we have a workforce that does not represent the UK population - and that things are getting worse. Government data tells us that teaching does not attract minority ethnic graduates, and also, that male teachers are choosing not to stay in the profession. At the same time the pay gap is widening, and both minority ethnic and female teachers are conspicuously absent from leadership positions. And we know that lack of representation in our profession cuts across all characteristics. The latest statistics are sobering. Just 35 percent of secondary classroom teachers are male – whilst 60% of head teachers are male. In primary 13 percent of teaching staff are male, compared to 26% of headteachers. Nationally, 87.8 percent of schools do not have a minority ethnic senior leader.
In the north-east and south-west, 81 percent and 80 percent of schools respectively do not have any minority ethnic teachers.
This does not reflect the diversity of university graduates, but it does reflect the lack of diversity in the creative industries, where we also see a gender gap in leadership and workforce representation.
Let’s be clear, lack of representation is a particularly big issue for art education. In 2017 the Runnymede Trust reported that only 6 percent of art and design teachers were from ethnically diverse communities, which compared to 31 percent of the student population. This compared to 14 percent of the workforce in the same year. We see the gender gap in Art and Design GCSE entries, as fewer boys opt to study our subject.
We must work together to change the face of education, of teaching in our subject, for the good of all. Too many young people are not seeing themselves in the curriculum, or in those they trust to lead their learning – at all levels. Is it any surprise that the patterns of inequity that we see in the profession continue into the industries that we prepare our learners to enter?
All those who work to support teachers know that for many, over the last three years, education has become an even more challenging environment. Pay has been eroded, with a 9 percent decrease in real terms over the last decade, and we hear directly from you, our members, about the reality of education in a pandemic era. But, be assured, NSEAD is here to represent every member, to improve your conditions in the workplace - helping you to keep doing the job that you love.
Michele Gregson
General Secretary
Our Anti-racist Art Education Action Pledge
Last Saturday we learned of the terrible killings of ten people who were gunned down whilst shopping in Buffalo by an 18 year-old in a premeditated ‘hate-based’ crime. This happened just days before the two year anniversary of the brutal killing of George Floyd. Once again, many are asking for tighter gun-control laws, but also for immediate change in the way history is taught in US schools.
As outlined both in The Schools White Paper and in The Inclusive Britain Report, it will be 2024 before only the history curriculum is reviewed in England. We do not want and cannot wait two years for just one subject to be inclusive and actively anti-racist, for generations of children to be seen, heard and represented throughout the curriculum.
When we launched our Anti-Racist Art Education Action (ARAEA) Checklists in June 2021 we pledged, that on the anniversary of George Floyd’s death each year (24 May), we would review our Checklists, to identify their impact and better share anti-racist practice. Today, we are asking for you to take part in our ARAEA Checklist survey.
You might think it's going to be boring or a waste of your time...
Have you ever been to an AGM? Did you know that we need a certain level of member attendance at the AGM, to make the Society's activity over the past year fully legal?!
It is vital for us as a professional body to have our members properly represented at the AGM, so please, if you have 45 minutes at 11am this Saturday 21 May, register to attend here. Camera-off and mic-muted is fine. We promise an interesting and inspiring agenda!
Imagine if every member of our professional learning community joined the AGM on Saturday on Zoom! It might crash the app but how amazing would that be! We hope to see you there!
A quick word about conference tickets
Recognising that your wants and needs are different, we've made our national conference highly flexible. The programme consists of a series of individual events and courses running from May through to September. All the twilight sessions will be available on-demand and you can attend as much or as little of the programme as you want. Choose from:
- A Premium Conference pass for two CPD sessions of your choice, all the twilight talks, social gatherings and extras for £125 - (the best value for money)
- A Standard Pass for one CPD session of your choice, all the twilights talks, social gatherings and extras for £75
- A Twilight Pass for all the twilight sessions and extras for £30
- Individual Twilight session tickets for just that event for just £5
We hope you can join us for this stimulating conference!
Next Online CPD session: Leading examination programmes
When: Thurs 26 May, 13.30-17.00
Where: Online
Member Ticket Prices: £75 or as part of the Premium Conference Pass £125
Join experienced art and design subject leaders Ged Gast and NSEAD President Liz Macfarlane for this timely CPD course.
Request CPD funding from your employer using our pre-filled template.
What to expect:
- An overview of GCSE content and regulations
- The implications for teachers applying the regulations
- How to establish good learning behaviours and habits
- How to prepare for the externally set assignment
- An overview of methodology – what skills do you plan to develop?
- How to ensure students have knowledge, skills and practice.
Experienced subject leaders will also share their GCSE priorities and approaches
Next week - Art as Activism
When: Wed 25 May, 16.00-17.30
Where: Online
Member Ticket Prices: £5 - £30 - £75 - £125 depending on ticket selection
Request CPD funding from your employer using our pre-filled template.
NSEAD Patron Bob and Roberta Smith; Caro Howell, Director of the Foundling Museum; and Lily Pfafenzeller, Articulate finalist, will consider the role educators, museums and galleries play to inspire and support young people to find and raise their voice.
"Artists, if you have a voice, use it!!!! Raise funds for Art, peace, talk, poetry, music, food, and health care – and NOT WAR!"
Bob and Roberta Smith is currently showing at the National Museum Cardiff, in The Rules of Art exhibition. Listen to him here talking about his piece David Nott Interview (2014).
This evening - Photography Facebook Live
This week we are celebrating our 1000th member in the Primary Art: Ask NSEAD group!
AND, today at 5.30pm we have a very special Facebook Live with Nicole Elias and Steve Wallington from The Photography Movement in conversation with NSEAD's Sophie Leach. Amongst other things, they will be discussing practical ways to introduce photography at primary level. Do not miss it!
The NSEAD Summer Social at the National Gallery
When: Saturday 9 July, 13.30-17.00
Where: The National Gallery, London
Cost: Part of the Premium and Standard Conference Passes or £20
We have teamed up with the wonderful folk at The National Gallery to bring you a relaxing, creative and interactive programme for a summer's get together. Expect conversation over tea and cake, storytelling, mindfulness and making sessions, a drinks reception and an opportunity to reconnect with the gallery and your favourite works of art.
Let's reunite, talk, laugh and unwind after a full-on year of teaching! Come on your own or bring a colleague! Everyone will be welcome and welcoming!
Talking of Primary Art...
When: Friday 10 June 09.00 - 12.00
Where: Zoom
You can still register for the next Leading Primary Art and Design CPD course with author, teacher educator, primary expert and all round delightful person Susan Ogier. It's happening on 10 June and is likely to sell out as this course always does.
The course will empower and enable you to be a confident, enthusiastic and knowledgeable leader and to plan a curriculum that is right for your school.
Request funding from your employer for this CPD course with our pro-forma.
AD Issue 34 is out now!
The Collaboration and Participation Issue. This term's AD features an interview with artist Faith Bebbington, an in-depth discussion on how to deliver art and design education at scale, conversations from the Anti-Racist Art Education Action group and inspirational practice across phases and sectors.
The learning that is shared throughout this term's AD is process-led, participatory and collaborative. It is learning that leads to exploration, problem-solving and discovery.
ECTs - Do you feel confident about managing behaviour?
When: 18.00 – 19:30 26 March 2022
Cost: Free to NSEAD ECT members
Register now to attend Session 4 of our special programme 'Mind the Art Gap', focusing on managing behaviour.
This event will provide you with the practical strategies, knowledge and skills to feel confident managing classroom behaviour.
The session will be led by Steve Rose, lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University and education consultant.
If you are unable to attend the event live, the recording and resources from the session will be shared with you but please do register!
Announcing the winner of the City Sketching Reimagined Giveaway
In our last newsletter we ran a prize draw for the new book from award winning artist educators Jeanette Barnes and Paul Brandford, City Sketching Reimagined.
Thank you to everyone who took part! The lucky winner is....
Elisa Irwin
Congratulations Elisa! We will be in touch by email to organise posting your book to you!
Fitzwilliam Museum: Teacher Celebration Event and Private View
When: Thursday 7 July, 18.00 - 20.00
Where: Cambridge
It's time for a celebration!
Join us and the curation and learning team staff at the Fitzwilliam Museum for a relaxed and exclusive evening opening. We will enjoy a glass of wine and some nibbles and explore their summer exhibitions.
The event is particularly suitable for Art and Design secondary teachers and primary teachers interested in employing creativity throughout their teaching.
- Refresh your creative energy by having time to relax and enjoy time in the museum with colleagues
- Collect ideas and inspiration for your classroom teaching
- Take part in pop-up workshops and activities throughout the galleries led by learning colleagues from across the University of Cambridge Museums
- Explore the exhibitions: Magdalene Odundo in Cambridge, Hockney’ Eye, and True to Nature
Deadline for applications: 27 May
Summer School: Final week of August
If you know or teach a student in Year 1 or 2 of their A-levels with an interest in studying architecture, Drawing Matter and their partners are offering them a great opportunity to learn more about the subject with some of the best lecturers teaching architecture in the UK.
Places are allocated on merit, and are free to successful applicants.
Arts Award is a unique set of qualifications that support children and young people aged 25 and under to enjoy the arts and develop as artists and arts leaders. Young people completing Arts Award acquire creativity, leadership, reflective thinking and communication.
SPAEDA's training bursaries provide:
- £100 off the cost of an online Arts Award Training place with Trinity College (any level*)
- Access to an online twilight network seminar on Wednesday 22 June for all new Advisers to meet and share their experiences
- A 30-minute individual online surgery per participant to help you set up and develop Arts Award in your school after you have completed your training
National Association of Teachers of Religious Education Survey
NATRE (National Association of Teachers of Religious Education) have asked us to share their survey about the teaching of Religious Education with our Primary School members. They undertake this survey every 2 years to gauge the teaching of, quality, and confidence of RE teachers. It is relevant to all Headteachers and RE subject leaders. The closing date is the end of July.
They use this survey data when advocating for RE with key stakeholders such as DfE and Ofsted and so it is essential they get as many to fill this in as is possible.
Have you ever thought about undertaking an MA?
When: Tuesday 31 May, 10.00- 16.00
Where: In Oxford or on online via Zoom
Oxford Brookes University will be running a taster event for anyone interested in finding out about the MA Artist Teacher Practice.
There will be a chance to make art and reflect on what it means to learn as an artist.
When: 23-29 May 2022
International Arts Education Week will take place at the end of this month and the theme is 'Peace'.
In celebration, WAAE is holding a number of webinars during the week:
23 May: Ring the Bells Opening Webinar: Arts Education for Peace
24 May: Film Devaradiyaar in Sadir: The life and art of Muthukannammal
25 May: A Webinar with Tintti Karpinnen from Finland, who dedicated her life to peace education through art education.
26 - 27 May: Open House (If you want to share your ideas and work with others you can send WAAE a presentation for these sessions).
28 May: Stories about the Alliance! A webinar with the founders of the World Alliance for Arts Education.
29 May: Closing session/reflections with WAAE leaders
When: 24 may 2022, 13:00 – 15:00
This webinar brings together academics and activists working in relation to disbelief and disregard in medicine, chronic illness and disability.
It will focus in particular on the relationship between disbelief/disregard and energy, understood in two ways: first in relation to chronic illness/disability that involves energy limitation, and secondly in relation to the ways in which activism and advocacy in relation to medicine, chronic illness and disability takes, and depletes, energy.
Latest external examiner vacancies
Leeds City College
FD Concept Art
Deadline: 20 May
Manchester Metropolitan University
- BA (Hons) Games Art
- MA Games Art
- BSc (Hons) Games Design
Deadline: 23 May
Teesside University
MA Visual Communication, Level 7
Deadline: 30 May
Sheffield Hallam University
Departmental Apprenticeship External Examiner
Deadline: 27 May
Sheffield Hallam University
BA Fine Art
Deadline: 31 May
NSEAD's fortnightly Art Education Advocacy quote
This week's art advocacy quote is from UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on the occasion of the International Arts Education Week (23-29 May). This awareness week promotes that:
- Art, in all its diversity, is an essential component of a comprehensive education for the full development of the individual
- Art brings us closer together
- This awareness of art can be acquired from an early age and maintained throughout life
Find out more here.
And finally...
We love to hear from our members. If you have any comments, questions, ideas or just want to say 'hi' feel free to drop us a line. NSEAD exists to protect, support and inspire YOU - together we are stronger!
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