Further drop in arts GCSE and A Level entries for 2019
22 August 2019
-38% decline in arts GCSE entries 2010 to 2019
-4% year-on-year drop in arts GCSEs 2018 to 2019
-29% decline in arts A Level entries 2010 to 2019
Results out today from the Joint Council for Qualifications show that between 2010 to 2019 in England there was a decline of -38% in the number of arts* GCSE entries, from 673,739 in 2010 to 419,664 in 2019.
Between 2017 and 2018 there was a decline of -10% in arts GCSE entries. This year’s figures continue the trend with a further drop of -4% 2018-2019.
*We define arts subjects as Art and Design, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama, Media/Film/TV Studies, Music and Performing/expressive arts.
Cohort numbers
The decline of -4% in arts entries is set against an increase from 2018 to 2019 in the number of students in year 11 (the year students take GCSEs) of +3.5%.
Since 2010 the year 11 cohort has fallen by -6.2%.
Cohort numbers are taken from the Department for Education Schools, Pupils and their characteristics statistics.
Silver linings?
It is welcome news that there have been small increases in Dance and Performing/expressive arts entries this year especially given the large declines in A Level entries, although there is a long way to go before entries reach their 2010 numbers.
There has been an increase of +10% in Art and Design entries, however there is concern that the numbers have been bolstered by schools switching students from studying Design and Technology to Art and Design, and while both subjects may have Design in their title they are distinct subjects, with different approaches and cannot be substituted for each other. Read more about this, and concerns about subject switching on the NSEAD (National Society for Education in Art and Design) website.
GCSE Arts Entries 2010 to 2019
2010 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
% change 2010 to 2019 |
% change 2018 to 2019 |
|
Art and Design subjects |
172,504 |
166,325 |
182,204 |
|
+6% |
+10% |
Dance** |
15,884 |
8,724 |
9,418 |
|
-41% |
+8% |
Design and Technology |
270,401 |
116,774 |
89,903 |
|
-67% |
-23% |
Drama |
81,592 |
57,987 |
57,704 |
|
-29% |
0% |
Media/Film/TV Studies |
63,808 |
41,832 |
36,437 |
|
-43% |
-13% |
Music |
46,045 |
35,531 |
34,725 |
|
-25% |
-2% |
Performing/expressive arts |
23,505 |
8,611 |
9,273 |
|
-61% |
+8% |
Total |
673,739 |
435,784 |
419,664 |
|
-38% |
-4% |
GCSE entries in Arts subjects 2010 and 2014 to 2019
2010 |
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Art and Design subjects |
172504 |
|
177206 |
181117 |
170114 |
162348 |
166325 |
182204 |
Dance** |
15884 |
|
12200 |
11865 |
10762 |
9401 |
8724 |
9418 |
Design and Technology |
270401 |
|
200133 |
192183 |
173532 |
153929 |
116774 |
89903 |
Drama |
81592 |
|
71399 |
71435 |
68171 |
61703 |
57987 |
57704 |
Media/Film/TV Studies |
63808 |
|
59536 |
58496 |
51209 |
44865 |
41832 |
36437 |
Music |
46045 |
|
42668 |
43667 |
41865 |
38376 |
35531 |
34725 |
Performing/ expressive arts |
23505 |
|
19607 |
19563 |
17676 |
14704 |
8611 |
9273 |
Total |
673739 |
|
582749 |
578326 |
533329 |
485326 |
435784 |
419664 |
History and Geography
In comparison to arts subjects the English Baccalaureate subjects History and Geography continue to see rises in entries.
2010 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
% change 2010 to 2019 |
% change 2018 to 2019 |
|
Geography |
175347 |
242268 |
251121 |
|
+43% |
+4% |
History |
200992 |
244401 |
251121 |
|
+30% |
+7% |
A Level Arts entries 2010 to 2019
Following the pattern of fewer arts GCSE entries, A Level entries are also falling. For many arts subjects if students have not studied the subject at GCSE they cannot progress on to study it at A Level.
Since 2010 A Level arts entries have fallen -29%. Particularly hard hit are Performing and expressive arts and Dance with declines in the last year alone of -16% and -18%.
England only results |
2010 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
% change 2010 to 2019 |
% change 2018 to 2019 |
Art and Design subjects |
42,577 |
39,848 |
39,219 |
|
-8% |
-2% |
Dance** |
2,261 |
1,316 |
1,102 |
|
-51% |
-16% |
Design and Technology |
16,519 |
9,703 |
9,231 |
|
-44% |
-5% |
Drama |
15,144 |
10,159 |
9,266 |
|
-39% |
-9% |
Media/Film/TV studies |
31,032 |
22,968 |
19,765 |
|
-36% |
-14% |
Music |
8,790 |
5,440 |
5,124 |
|
-42% |
-6% |
Performing/expressive arts |
3,666 |
1,282 |
1,050 |
|
-71% |
-18% |
Total |
119,989 |
90,716 |
84,757 |
|
-29% |
-7% |
A Level entries in Arts subjects
England only |
2010 |
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
Art and Design subjects |
42577 |
|
41812 |
41712 |
39962 |
40470 |
39848 |
39219 |
Dance** |
2261 |
|
1892 |
1875 |
1582 |
1455 |
1316 |
1102 |
Design and Technology |
16519 |
|
12016 |
11491 |
10662 |
10657 |
9703 |
9231 |
Drama |
15144 |
|
11878 |
11963 |
11210 |
10751 |
10159 |
9266 |
Media/Film/TV studies |
31032 |
|
26116 |
26036 |
25516 |
24450 |
22968 |
19765 |
Music |
8790 |
|
7353 |
6820 |
6194 |
5610 |
5440 |
5124 |
Performing/expressive arts |
3666 |
|
2526 |
2468 |
2017 |
1744 |
1282 |
1050 |
Total |
119989 |
|
103593 |
102365 |
97143 |
95137 |
90716 |
84757 |
All GCSE and A Level entry numbers are from the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) annual results tables.
**Dance GCSE and A Level numbers are from the examining board AQA and are for all of the UK. JCQ only reports Dance GCSE numbers within the PE results.