THE elasticity of the school timetable is to be tested once again, this time by the Government's declaration that every child should have access to five hours of culture every week.

It is only a matter of months since Gordon Brown, in one of his first acts as Prime Minister, declared his ambition to see every pupil take part in five hours of sport every week.

Cooking lessons are also back on the agenda after Jamie Oliver so successfully exposed the dubious diets of Britain's young people and there have even been calls for children to receive advice on how to manage their finances because of the number of families now racking up huge debts.

With pupils spending so much time kicking balls, boiling eggs and watching Shakespeare during the school day there soon may not be much time to do anything else. The reaction of teachers, who have repeatedly been promised more freedom to exercise their judgment within the curriculum, was to shake their heads in disbelief.

The call for schools to embrace high culture is another example in the growing trend of schools being asked to take on responsibilities that were once considered the role of parents. While excursions and performances from travelling theatre groups have always been part of school life, it has generally been accepted that anything beyond that is down to families.

In some cases, as in those schools where pupils arrive with inadequate social skills, teachers do have to take on the role of surrogate parent just to get children to the point where they can learn in the same way as their classmates.

It is also generally agreed that to become a rounded adult, any child must enjoy a wide variety of experiences, including those sporting and cultural.

Announcing the plans yesterday, Schools Secretary Ed Balls, the MP for Normanton, said: "Many of us remember the first ever live music we heard or the first ever performance we saw. I want all young people to have the chance to experience and take part in creative activities to help them learn and develop."

Few headteachers would disagree and already want to provide exactly that, where time and money allow. But the decision of Ministers to lay down specific guidelines as to how much time should be spent on cultural activities, rather than rely on teachers' own judgment, suggests there is a fundamental problem that can only be solved by the Government using the school system to establish good habits at a young age.

That argument is easier to make in the case of sport and cooking. Levels of obesity among young people have reached the point where they not only pose a risk to the individual's health but, in
years to come, could also be a massive strain on the health service. The evidence of a similar growing crisis in cultural awareness among the younger is harder to identify.

True, teenagers are not queuing round the block to get into many art galleries, but they never did. Every generation has its own interests and, thanks to the internet, young people have access to more cultural influences than their parents ever did.

In that case, questions will be raised as to whether it is worth devoting more time to cultural activities when scores of pupils are still leaving school every year with substandard basic skills? Last year, fewer than half the country's 16-year-olds managed five grade Cs at GCSE in subjects including English and maths. In Hull, the figure was less than a third. Many will believe pupils need to spend more time in the classroom rather than the drama studio.

And even if there is a crisis among the young when it comes to accessing the arts, is the Government dictating what culture is and how it should be enjoyed the way to generate new interest?

Certainly not, according to Mark Littlewood from the Progressive Vision think tank. "Just about the last way to get children interested in high-quality culture is to have two government Ministers promising them five hours a week of the stuff.

"Young people appreciate theatre and art when introduced to it through their families, friends and peer group. This wrong-headed proposal is more likely to alienate pupils than to enthuse them."

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said the five-hour commitment was only an "aspiration" and it would be left to schools to work out how and when to offer more cultural activities. Meanwhile, John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, pointed out that the initial funding announced by the Government amounts to around £15 per pupil. However it is divided up, that kind of money won't pay for many trips to the Royal Opera House.

"Cultural visits to the theatre or galleries should be a part of a child's education, but who, in the long-term will meet the admission prices and transport costs?" asked Geraldine Everett, chairwoman of the Professional Association of Teachers, voicing the concerns of many. "Museums and theatres may be round the corner in big cities, but they are not as accessible in smaller towns and rural areas."

Given the pressures facing schools and the limited new funding available, critics will say it is fairly predictable which schools will end up embracing the new Whitehall-driven enthusiasm for culture. It will be the ones confident enough in their league table position to free up time in the curriculum for cultural activities and those where supportive parents will help finance trips to the theatre and art galleries or attend after-school functions. In other words, the schools where pupils were more likely to be exposed to the arts anyway.

Sadly, although the Government's proposals are no doubt made with the best of intentions, there is every chance they will trigger a
renewed debate about what schools should be spending their time on, rather than heralding a new era of interest in high culture among the young.


IN SEARCH OF HIGH ART... FIVE DESTINATIONS TO BROADEN YOUNG MINDS

If Government plans become a reality, schools will have to devote at least five hours a week to "high quality culture", but where are the best places in Yorkshire to inspire young people?

Art
Yorkshire Sculpture Park

In terms of public appreciation, sculpture is the art world's poor relation. However, thanks to Antony Gormley and his Angel of the North, people have become more aware of the art form in recent years, which is good news for the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Set in 500 acres of parkland, near Wakefield, its recent Andy Goldsworthy exhibition won
the South Bank Show's visual arts award. The park is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Museum
Weston Park Museum

While the Sheffield museum first opened its doors in 1875, the site has recently enjoyed a multi-million pound overhaul. Now home to interactive displays, from Egyptian mummies to a traditional Sheffield butcher's shop, the attraction was a finalist in last year's Gulbenkian Prize, and with a tag line which reads "doors and minds opened daily", it's exactly the kind of place Culture Secretary Andy Burnham wants teachers to embrace.

Music
Opera North

Tell a class of teenagers that sitting through three hours of Puccini's Madame Butterfly is good for their soul and they'll doubtless take some convincing. Tell them it's about an American love rat who does the dirty on his supposed true love and you might just get them through the entrance of the theatre. Part of the brief of Leeds-based Opera North is to raise the profile of opera among children. The internationally renowned company holds various events throughout the year to bring opera to the iPod generation.

Dance
Northern Ballet

While ballet classes are an inevitable rite of passage for most girls, even Billy Elliot would struggle to persuade boys of the merits of men in tights. However, for the naysayers, a Northern Ballet production is not a bad place to start. While the company does perform traditional ballets like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, they have also gained a reputation for pushing boundaries. Recent productions have included Dangerous Liaisons and Dracula.

Theatre
Hull Truck Theatre

For those not studying English Literature, school trips to the theatre often amount to little more than the annual panto.

In recognition of this, the good people behind Hull Truck have been on a mission to make theatre more accessible. The venue's Truck Tales productions are aimed at younger audiences and with tickets costing just £2.50 it does its best to make the shows affordable.