Further decline in arts GCSE and A Level entries
23 August 2018
-10% decline in arts subject GCSE entries 2017 to 2018
-35% decline in arts subject GCSE entries 2010 to 2018
Continuing decline in arts A Levels: entries down -24% since 2010
Patterns in GCSE and A Level entries 2010 to 2018
Between 2010 to 2018 in England there was a decline of -35% in the number of arts GCSE* entries from 673,739 in 2010 to 435,784 in 2018**.
2016 to 2017 there was a decline of -9% in arts GCSE entries. This year’s figures continue the trend with a further drop of -10% 2017 to 2018.
This year’s decline of -10% in arts entries is set against a decline in the number of students in year 11 (the year students take GCSEs) in England of -1%. Since 2010 the year 11 cohort has fallen by -9%***.
England only results |
2010 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
% change 2010 to 2018 |
% change 2017 to 2018 |
Art and Design subjects |
172,504 |
162,348 |
166,325 |
|
-4% |
+2% |
Dance**** |
15,884 |
9,401 |
8,724 |
|
-45% |
-7% |
Design and Technology |
270,401 |
153,929 |
116,774 |
|
-57% |
-24% |
Drama |
81,592 |
61,703 |
57,987 |
|
-29% |
-6% |
Media/Film/TV Studies |
63,808 |
44,865 |
41,832 |
|
-34% |
-7% |
Music |
46,045 |
38,376 |
35,531 |
|
-23% |
-7% |
Performing/expressive arts |
23,505 |
14,704 |
8,611 |
|
-63% |
-41% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
673,739 |
532,525 |
435,784 |
|
-35% |
-10% |
GCSE entries in Arts subjects 2010 and 2013 to 2018
England only |
2010 |
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
Art and Design subjects |
172,504 |
|
167,894 |
177,206 |
181,117 |
170,114 |
162,348 |
166,325 |
Dance |
15,884 |
|
11,856 |
12,200 |
11,865 |
10,762 |
9,401 |
8,724 |
Design and Technology |
270,401 |
|
206,044 |
200,133 |
192,183 |
173,532 |
153,929 |
116,774 |
Drama |
81,592 |
|
70,402 |
71,399 |
71,435 |
68,171 |
61,703 |
57,987 |
Media/Film/TV Studies |
63,808 |
|
55,005 |
59,536 |
58,496 |
51,209 |
44,865 |
41,832 |
Music |
46,045 |
|
41,580 |
42,668 |
43,667 |
41,865 |
38,376 |
35,531 |
Performing/ expressive arts |
23,505 |
|
19,188 |
19,607 |
19,563 |
17,676 |
14,704 |
8,611 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
673,739 |
|
571,969 |
582,749 |
578,326 |
533,329 |
485,326 |
435,784 |
History and Geography
In comparison to arts subjects the English Baccalaureate subjects History and Geography continue to see rises in entries.
England only results |
2010 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
% change 2010 to 2018 |
% change 2017 to 2018 |
Georgraphy |
175,347 |
231,297 |
242,268 |
|
+38% |
+5% |
History |
200,992 |
239,027 |
244,401 |
|
+22% |
+2% |
A Level entries England only
Following the pattern of fewer arts GCSE entries A Level entries are also falling. Particularly hard hit are Performing and Expressive Arts and Dance, with declines in the last year alone of -26% and -10%.
For many arts subjects it is the case that if students have not studied the subject at GCSE they cannot progress on to study it at A Level.
England only results |
2010 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
% change 2010 to 2018 |
% change 2017 to 2018 |
Art and Design subjects |
42,577 |
40,470 |
39,848 |
|
-6% |
-2% |
Dance |
2,261 |
1,455 |
1,316 |
|
-42% |
-10% |
Design and Technology |
16,519 |
10,657 |
9,703 |
|
-41% |
-9% |
Drama |
15,144 |
10,751 |
10,159 |
|
-33% |
-6% |
Media/Film/TV studies |
31,032 |
24450 |
22,968 |
|
-26% |
-6% |
Music |
8,790 |
5,610 |
5,440 |
|
-38% |
-3% |
Performing/expressive arts |
3,666 |
1,744 |
1,282 |
|
-65% |
-26% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
119,989 |
95,137 |
90,716 |
|
-24% |
-5% |
A Level entries in Arts subjects
England only |
2010 |
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
Art and Design subjects |
42,577 |
|
40,878 |
41,812 |
41,712 |
39,962 |
40,470 |
39,848 |
Dance |
2,261 |
|
1,979 |
1,892 |
1,875 |
1,582 |
1,455 |
1,316 |
Design and Technology |
16,519 |
|
13,856 |
12,016 |
11,491 |
10,662 |
10,657 |
9,703 |
Drama |
15,144 |
|
12,564 |
11,878 |
11,963 |
11,210 |
10,751 |
10,159 |
Media/Film/TV studies |
31,032 |
|
26,848 |
26,116 |
26,036 |
25,516 |
24,450 |
22,968 |
Music |
8,790 |
|
7,793 |
7,353 |
6,820 |
6,194 |
5,610 |
5,440 |
Performing/expressive arts |
3,666 |
|
2,740 |
2,526 |
2,468 |
2,017 |
1,744 |
1,282 |
Total |
119,989 |
|
106,658 |
103,593 |
102,365 |
97,143 |
95,137 |
90,716 |
Notes
*We define arts subjects as Art and Design, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama, Media/Film/TV Studies, Music and Performing/expressive arts
**GCSE and A Level entry numbers are from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) annual results tables.
***All children in year 11 in state schools and all children turning 16 during the school year in independent schools in England. Cohort numbers are taken from the Department for Education Schools, Pupils and their characteristics statistics.
****Dance GCSE and A Level numbers are from AQA and are for all of the UK. JCQ only reports Dance GCSE numbers within the PE results.
Image: Bonnie Parsons, Southbank Centre Beyoncé Dance class
Interesting . So if since 2010 the year 11 cohort has fallen by -9%, whilst the absolute numbers may have dropped how do the numbers work as a percentage of the cohort?
In 2010 the entries were 107% of the cohort (631,920 children in year 11 or equivalent year in independent schools)
In 2018 the entries were 76% of the cohort (572,851 children in year 11 or equivalent year in independent schools)