Dear Supporters, Last week, the Government unveiled plans to make studying English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects compulsory for all secondary school students in the UK. This means that they would have to study English, maths, a science, a language and a humanities subject (defined as only geography or history). Since they first tried to introduce the EBacc as a school league table in 2011, the number of pupils studying arts subjects – including music – has declined. Making it compulsory will have an even bigger impact. I know from personal experience how important music is in changing people’s lives for the better. This is reason enough to fight for arts to be included as a sixth strand in the EBacc. But on top of this, the Government need to know that the creative industries are worth £76.9bn per year to the UK economy! The EBacc will put this at risk. Above all, without access to music and the arts, children in our schools will be denied a well-rounded education. This is a tragedy. We need to make this warning heard. The Incorporated Society of Musicians – who are supporting us as we run this campaign – have already stepped up their cross-arts campaigning and now we need you make our voices heard. I am asking you to please forward this email to your friends, put the petition link on Twitter and Facebook and get as many people as possible to sign up to the campaign. This proposed EBacc policy will have a devastating impact on the arts and music in our schools. The Government must reconsider their proposal. Thank you, thank you and thank you again. Best wishes, James