The director of V&A East has said it is “a shock” to comprehend how creative education has been “set back a generation” in British schools.

Gus Casely-Hayford, the inaugural director of the V&A’s forthcoming five-storey museum in east London, and its collections and research centre, V&A East Storehouse, told guests at the Creative Industries Property Summit on Thursday (18 September) he wanted the government to “reinvest in STEAM”, not STEM.

Referring to an educational framework that encompasses arts subjects, as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Casely-Hayford said there were “huge synergies” between scientific and creative modes of thinking.

Asked what his most pressing “provocation” for the government might be, in a panel titled London’s Creative East: Better Places and Aligning Partnerships, Casely-Hayford said education was his biggest concern.

“I do think at this stage, the shock to me is what a generation of not serving the creative education of young well [does],” he said.

“Seeing the ossification of delivery [when it comes to arts subjects in schools], how that has set back a generation, even here in London, where we have these incredible creative traditions and roots… I would love it if government were to reinvest in STEAM.”

Casely-Hayford continued: “STEM has been the clear focus of our educational priorities, quite rightly. But I think we could broaden that and see the benefits.”

‘Sobering’ to see lack of creative provision

The museum leader, whose previous role saw him direct Washington DC’s National Museum of African Art, said he had found it “sobering” to see how many schools lacked the provision to teach creative subjects and the arts to the same extent as other subjects.

“Many schools have fantastic facilities but do not have the resources to deliver the creative education young people would like,” Casely-Hayford suggested.

Pointing to the unpredictability of the political landscape, he said: “It’s a period within which there is so little good news for young people.

“We want to give them the opportunities to at least dream.”

Casely-Hayford’s comments echo many other creative leaders and the hopes of organisations including Society of London Theatre (SOLT), in urging Labour to reinstate a strong emphasis on the arts within schools and colleges.

Many are waiting to see the results of the government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, expected to publish its findings this autumn.