Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect on uptake at secondary schools of (a) art, (b) drama, (c) music and (d) other arts subjects at GCSE of the introduction of the Ebacc target for GCSE attainment.

The numbers and percentages of pupils in English state-funded schools entering GCSEs in art, drama, music and other arts subjects each academic year are published as part of the GCSE and equivalent results statistical first release.[1]

Whilst JCQ exam entry data[2] shows a fall in GCSE entries to arts subjects this year, entries to arts subjects increased between 2013 and 2015.[3] The proportion of pupils in state-funded schools entering at least one GCSE in an arts subject has increased since the EBacc was first introduced, rising from 45.8% in 2011 to 49.6% in 2015.[4]

On average, pupils in state-funded schools enter nine GCSEs and equivalent qualifications, rising to ten for more able pupils.[5] As the EBacc covers seven GCSEs, or eight for those pupils taking triple science, there continues to be room to study other subjects.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4

[2] http://www.jcq.org.uk/examination-results/gcses

[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4

[4] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/473178/EBacc_and_non-EBacc_subject_entries_and_achievement.pdf

[5] https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=phase&geographic=all&region=0&phase=secondary&for=Key%20stage%204%20performance&basedon=Exam%20entries&show=All%20pupils&&schoolTypeFilter=allSchools