News

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

England only results

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

England only

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.

England only results

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.