Change to inquiry curriculum may only mean a different presentation

My daughter's primary school has recently changed to an inquiry curriculum. I can see this encourages critical thinking and questioning skills, but the arts seem to have got lost. My daughter is not very academic, but she is very artistic and loves to do things like art, drama and dance. In her previous reports, this is what she excelled at, but they don't really seem to do these subjects any more. What can we do?

An inquiry curriculum integrates subject areas to make meaningful links and connections to the modern world and the children themselves, thereby making learning real and relevant.

This approach to learning is different from the way many of us were taught and can initially be confusing for parents. Be aware that subjects, in the traditional sense, are not usually seen and taught as separate entities nor are they necessarily called by their time-honoured names. For example: it may be harder for a child to depict a map-work activity in a unit of inquiry as 'geography' or constructing electrical circuits as 'science'. Hence, students may not be as aware of separate subject areas.

Of course, subject-specific skills still need to be taught explicitly if natural links to an overarching theme or central idea can't be made. And be aware that dance can sometimes be included under the umbrella of physical education, although this does not necessarily exclude it from classroom activities.

I sincerely hope the arts have not been sidelined at your daughter's school as you describe. The nurturing and development of creativity are vital in a busy and demanding modern world, not just as something that develops lateral thinking skills and individuality, but also as a way of achieving personal satisfaction and growth. It gives children opportunities to express themselves, stretch their imagination and gain a deeper understanding of the world and their places in it. Drama can help students explore and experiment with a range of social skills encouraging empathy with the emotions and perspectives of others.

For children who may have a flair for the arts but are not very academic, achieving success with one or more aspects of the arts can be a great confidence boost and release from the struggle of other curriculum areas.