Cultural Learning Alliance

We are pleased to share our detailed analysis of the government response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review final report, Building a World-Class Curriculum for All. [1/4]

CLA Latest Thinking: The ‘Expressive’ in ‘Expressive Arts’ The term ‘expressive Arts’ emerged through Arts in Schools: Foundations for the Future 22/3. Here Professor Pat Thomson considers the term & its value to frame the Arts within schools Read more: culturallearningalliance.org.uk/expressive-art…

CLA Research Spotlight: Feb 2026 This month, Professor Pat Thomson reports on a new paper which asserts that culture should be seen as part of essential infrastructure, and makes the case for culture as a collective public good. Read more: culturallearningalliance.org.uk/research-spotl…

🔺 The creation of a new Brit School-inspired college in Bradford 🔺 A new Radio 4 documentary about Drama education Read more: culturallearningalliance.org.uk/latest-news-fe…

🔺 The interim evaluation of the Music Hubs following their restructure 🔺 Child poverty figures to be revised down 🔺 The launch of a Young Creatives Commission in partnership with the Roundhouse 🔺 How Skills Classifications are starting to embrace the Arts

CLA Latest News: February 2026 Our digest this month features: 🔺 The funding announcement for the National Centre for Arts and Music Education 🔺 Schools White Paper and SEND reform 🔺 Consultation on Key Stage 4 performance measures, including Progress 8

CLA Research Spotlight: January 2026 This month Professor Thomson reports on an Australian longitudinal study tracking students aspiring to build careers in the creative arts and what shapes these aspirations. Read more: culturallearningalliance.org.uk/research-spotl…

CLA Latest Thinking: National Youth Strategy update Tina Ramdeen – CLA Trustee and Associate Director, Young People, @RoundhouseLDN – sets out the headlines of the government’s National Youth Strategy culturallearningalliance.org.uk/national-youth… 📸 Young Creatives @RoundhouseLDN | Lloyd Winters

CLA Latest Thinking: Introducing the new look Arts Education Capabilities Framework We are launching new versions of our Arts Education Capabilities Framework, now available in poster-format and in an extended version. Read more: culturallearningalliance.org.uk/capabilities-f…

And finally, our look back to what we did in 2025 – and a look forward to what we will be publishing and launching in 2026. Read more: culturallearningalliance.org.uk/latest-news-ja… Image: Create Club at Tate St Ives (2024). Supported by the Mildred Fund. | Credit: Steve Tanner

Cultural sector news: 🔻 Significant new government funding announced for cultural sector 🔻 New award from the Freelands Foundation 🔻 A new report on barriers to employment in the creative industries for those from working class backgrounds 🔻 The Hodge Review of ACE

🔻 CLA Latest News: January 2026 🔻 Happy 2026! Here is another bumper edition of our Newsletter to start the year. In the Latest News section – spanning the education and Arts sectors – we report on:

As we look ahead to 2026, we’ll be consulting on the next phase of our Blueprint for an Arts-rich education, upgrading resources, and sharing new evidence. Read our end-of-year update: mailchi.mp/culturallearni…

2025 has been a landmark year for Arts education. From the Curriculum and Assessment Review to the government’s new ambition for equitable access and an Arts entitlement, big changes are on the horizon.

CLA Research Spotlight | December 2025 This month Prof Thomson reports on a research paper examining the impact of AI on school music ed, asking key questions about equity, ethics & artistic expression, and making important recommendations. culturallearningalliance.org.uk/research-spotl…

@ACARAeduau Her PhD research is a critical discourse analysis of the Australian politico-media response to the PISA 2022 Creative Thinking results. She argues that the Arts can help us to understand and assess creativity/ies. Read more: culturallearningalliance.org.uk/igniting-a-spa…

CLA Latest Thinking | Igniting a spark: What if we assessed creativity through an arts education lens? In the 3rd in our series of think pieces on the arts and creativity, we have an international perspective from Jane Polley, now Curriculum Specialist, The Arts, at @ACARAeduau.

CLA Latest Thinking | Education for human flourishing: A new framework from the OECD Prof Pat Thomson examines “Education for human flourishing: A conceptual framework”, recently published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) culturallearningalliance.org.uk/new-framework-…