Andrew Lloyd Webber Criticizes English Baccalaureate System

Andrew Lloyd Webber criticised the government's decision to leave arts and culture out of the newly proposed 'English Baccalaureate' exam system in the House of Lords yesterday.

He pointed out that while the UK government might not understand the significance of the creative arts and their importance to the UK economy, China does.
"My Lords, the Chinese seem to be taking a different attitude to all areas of the arts. They realise how important the creative industries potentially are to their economy. In everything from applied arts to music to drama, they are actively seeking our teachers as well as sending students to us here to learn. It is vital that the Government take on board that the creative industries are important to our economy and that we must recognise that within education."
Andrew's statement, which received keen support in the chamber, were in response to a question posed by the Earl of Clancarty:

'The Earl of Clancarty to ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of their proposals to change the school qualifications system, what plans they have in relation to the teaching of the arts in secondary schools, including visual arts, drama, music and dance.