THE head of Hereford Cathedral School used his speech day to test government over exam reform.

In his keynote address Saturday's event, Paul Smith said the study of music and the arts could be under threat if Government pushes on with plans for a compulsory curriculum of core GCSE subjects.

The new English Baccalaureate (EBacc) proposals would require every pupil to study English, Maths, a science, a humanities - either Geography or History - subject and a language and would rank schools on performance in only these subjects, excluding the arts altogether.

Mr Smith said that the new plans, coupled with a heavy emphasis on league tables, increasing pressure from government funding cuts and fear of judgements such as ‘coasting’, might force state schools to use their limited resources on a narrower, rather than a broader curriculum.

In extracts from his address, Mr Smith went on to say:

* “The new Government seems determined to push ahead with the EBacc curriculum, which requires all pupils in the state sector to study maths, English, science, a foreign language and either history or geography.”

* “The EBacc aims to ‘deliver a fairer, more socially mobile society’. Nothing wrong with that, but quite why this should equate with the requirement that all pupils should spend the majority of their school days, irrespective of ability and aptitude, studying a narrow curriculum, at the expense of music and the arts is beyond me.”

* “Surely, with so much importance attached to league table positions, the fear of judgements such as ‘coasting’, and cuts in government funding, it is inevitable that many state schools will feel pressurised to place special emphasis, and their limited resources, on a narrower rather than broader range of subjects - will they, for example, be able to justify spending sufficient time on subjects such as music, RS, drama and art?”

* “Will this inevitably result in the demise of associated extra-curricular activities such as school plays and concerts? I have no doubt that many head teachers in the state sector value, and wish for their schools to teach, creative subjects as much as we do in the independent sector. We are fortunate that our independence enables us to continue championing the creative arts and to highlight that breadth matters as much as depth.”