PRIMARY SCHOOL ART AND MUSIC “GUTTED” BY SNP, SAYS SANGSTER

by BILL HEANEY

Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of “hollow rhetoric” on the arts as new analysis shows the number of art and music teachers in primary schools has plummeted by 75 per cent under the SNP. 

Analysis of teacher numbers has shown that the total number of primary school art and music teachers in Scotland has plummeted by 75 per cent since 2008 – made up of an 80 per cent drop in art teachers and a 71 per cent drop in music teachers.

In the last 10 years alone, the number of primary school art and music teachers fell by 63 per cent and 66 per cent respectively. 

Labour’s Katherine Sangster, young musicians Ireland and Education Secretary Mairi McAllan. Top of page: An orchestra of Primary pupils from Bonhill

While defending dismal new PISA scores for reading, mathematics and science, the Education Secretary Mairi McAllan pointed out that they do not monitor “artistic expression”. 

However, Scottish Labour has pointed out that, as well as failing on the basics, the SNP has also undermined the arts in schools by cutting dozens of primary school art and music teachers. 

Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Katherine Sangster said “These astounding figures show primary school art and music have been gutted by the SNP. 

“Kids from every background deserve the chance to discover their talents and enjoy arts and music – not just those who can afford to pay for classes. 

“The SNP has been talking about ‘artistic expression’ in a bid to distract from its failure to get the basics right in our schools, but even that is just hollow rhetoric. 

“It’s time for the SNP to stop making excuses and deliver the education system Scottish kids deserve – from supporting the arts to improving attainment.”

Notes 

Table 2.8a: Primary school teachers (FTE) by main subject taught, 2008-2025:  

 Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/teacher-census-supplementary-statistics/