A SCHEME that will help cash-strapped schools across the district to keep teaching arts will start in September.

Bradford College has created the Margaret McMillan Centre for Arts and Education, which will see tutors working with schools to teach young people a variety of skills, from drama to film-making.

The aim is to ensure pupils don't miss out on being taught the arts, even if schools have to cut back on staff.

Although the Government says it is protecting school budgets, most schools and teaching unions say they face real-terms budget cuts due to issues including rising pension and National Insurance contributions.

It has led to many schools having to consider cutting staff, with some even looking at dropping the teaching of certain subjects.

The new programme, which initially will involve primary schools, is a collaboration between the college's arts and teaching departments.

During the project, the college will research the impact of arts in the education system.

Damien O’Keeffe, head of the School of Creative Industries at the college, said: “We want to share our resources and help support young people’s experiences of arts.

“Schools are constantly being squeezed and this means staff often don’t have a speciality in art. If we can do something to boost what schools can do to give children the best possible arts curriculum then that is ideal.”

Initially the scheme will be funded through local education partnerships and Bradford Council.

Mr O’Keeffe added: “We have contacted schools to find out what areas are most pressing. We will be running sessions like print-making, ceramics, film-making and drama. Hopefully it will soon become self-sustaining, although we’ll be offering it for free in the first year.

“As well as people from the college we can pull in people from other arts organisations so we have a large network of practitioners. It all depends on what the schools want."