Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students in (a) state funded schools and (b) independent schools studied (i) art and design, (ii) design and technology, (iii) drama, (iv) media, film and TV studies, (v) music and (vi) performing and expressive arts subjects to GCSE level in each of the last eight years.

The number of pupils, at the end of their key stage 4 study, entering each of the requested arts subjects in state-funded schools in the last eight years can be found in the attached table.

The number of pupils, at the end of their key stage 4 study, entering each of the requested arts subjects in independent schools in the last eight years can also be found in the attached table.

We have reformed GCSEs so that they are in line with expected standards in countries with high performing education systems. The level of demand in the new arts GCSEs more consistently and rigorously assesses the knowledge and skills acquired by pupils during key stage 4.