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14 April 2026

Are we running out of STEAM?

In the 21st century, the education landscape has been dominated by the prioritisation of STEM subjects. Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths has had all the headlines, all the focus and all the resource. Around 2006, the ‘A’ of Arts was tentatively introduced into the mix, inspired by the recognition that creativity has an important part to play in promoting innovation and technological advancement across all sectors. Lately, largely due to regulatory reforms and the neglect of arts education at primary and secondary level in the UK, the ‘A’ in STEAM is fast fading. However, with boundaries between industries ever-blurring (such as the development of augmented reality and virtual reality technologies within architectural design) creative, inquisitive, experimental, and exploratory thinking has never been more needed.

Ofsted is wrong about arts and media courses

The obsession with STEM is causing misperceptions about the value – economic and social – of participation in the creative industries, believes Debra Gray I like Amanda Spielman. I think she has been a force for good at Ofsted. I spent a day with the chief inspector of education, children’s services and skills last year […]