Human skills matter ‘deeply’ in a world of AI, says minister

The schools minister has spoken of the need for pupils to build “human skills” in the “world of AI”, as she defended plans to encourage greater uptake of arts and vocational subjects.

Addressing an arts conference at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon last week, Georgia Gould criticised a “a false dichotomy that I think has been created between inclusion and standards, creativity and academic subjects”.

Her comments came as the Department for Education named the 56 areas of England where more than 400 schools will benefit from funding through the £22.5 million enrichment expansion programme, although it has not named the schools themselves.

She was also speaking days before the DfE announced plans for new “vocational GCSEs” and a further shake-up of league tables to recognise them.

The government’s focus on creative and vocational subjects has drawn criticism from Conservative politicians, including the former education secretary Michael Gove.

He claimed in a Spectator column that the new government wanted to “bring back stupid”.

But when asked about the comments last week by RSC trustee and former ASCL boss Geoff Barton, Gould said the reforms “will support the next leap forward in standards. I’m absolutely sure of that.”

Positive PISA results

She said the recent PISA results were “really positive” for England’s performance, reflecting a “combination of decades of cross-party investment” in literacy, numeracy and phonics.

“All of those things are critically important.

“But if you look at what we’re doing badly in PISA, it’s in our sense of belonging, children’s value of school. We’ve long-term continuing issues with attendance, disengagement, a continuing disadvantage gap.

“Children need to want to come to school. School has to feel unmissable.”

Gould said the government would “absolutely continue to be focused” on literacy and numeracy, as well as developing a new focus on oracy.

“But there’s been a false dichotomy that I think has been created between inclusion and standards, creativity and academic subjects.

“A broad education, and young people intrinsically understand this, families intrinsically understand this, teachers intrinsically understand it, needs both. We just need to ensure we deliver both, and that will support us in ensuring that our children are achieving in every aspect of their lives.”

She added that ministers wanted young people to leave school “with a whole range of rich experiences, to be well-rounded, to nurture their academic skills, but also their creative skills.

“We know that the world is changing rapidly, and I think children’s ability to imagine, to put themselves in other people’s shoes, to have empathy, to think differently is so intrinsically human, and in a world of AI, those human skills deeply matter.”

RSC report

An RSC report, Every Child’s Voice, also released at the symposium, warned that since 2010, “provision of and engagement in arts education has fallen sharply”

The research found entries in arts GCSE subjects in England have declined by 42 per cent, with more than 40 per cent of state secondary schools no longer offering drama or music.

The report called for every child to have “access to a high-quality arts education throughout their school lives”.

Ministers should reform Progress 8 to ensure parity for arts subjects and give every child a “meaningful arts entitlement” in the curriculum, the report said.

The DfE should also establish a national arts education evidence hub to share best practice and collect data on subject take-up.

Barton said the RSC welcomed the government saying that the arts should be more than an enrichment opportunity but should be fundamental to children’s learning.

“It goes without saying that what you get in drama is the opportunity to access the great stories of our culture and to tell your own story. And something that isn’t talked about enough, the ability to listen and to disagree agreeably and all of those kind of skills that in the age of AI we need human beings to do more of.”