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Arts and Technology: GCSE

Answer

The Department is clear that all pupils should be taught a broad and balanced curriculum. The best schools combine creative and technical subjects with core academic subjects, and the Department is committed to ensuring that all pupils have access to both.

The Department believes the best way to provide this academic core at Key Stage 4 is by encouraging most pupils to study the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) suite of subjects, which are English language and literature, Mathematics, the sciences, geography or history, and a modern or ancient language. The EBacc was designed to be limited in size to allow pupils time to study other subjects.

Two of our six headline measures, Progress 8 and Attainment 8, measure success in eight subjects, including English and Mathematics, three other EBacc subjects and three ‘open’ subjects. The latter provides scope for pupils to study any GCSE subjects or any other approved, high value qualifications.

These include GCSEs in non-EBacc subjects, such as art and design, drama, music, design and technology, and food preparation and nutrition. They also include a wide range of technical awards from a list approved by the Department, including Level 1 and 2 qualifications that equip pupils with applied knowledge and practical skills not usually acquired through general education.

The Department has made no specific assessment in relation to the impact of accountability measures on the uptake of GCSEs in creative or technical subjects. In response to the consultation on the EBacc, the Government published a report in 2017 on trends in arts subjects up to 2015/16 where EBacc entry had increased. At that time, the report showed little correlation between the change in EBacc entry and the change in the percentage of pupils entering at least one arts qualification in state funded mainstream schools.

The report can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trends-in-arts-subjects-in-schools-with-increased-ebacc-entry.

Since 2015/16, there may be additional impacts of more recent accountability policies on the uptake of a range of GCSEs, which have not been captured. The Department regularly publishes entry statistics for GCSEs and technical awards. Over the past four years, the proportion of Key Stage 4 pupils in state funded schools taking at least one arts GCSE between 2018/19 and 2021/22 has decreased from 44.5% to 42.0%. Over the same period the percentage taking at least one arts qualification (GCSE or technical award) has increased from 52.3% to 52.4%.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

147052

Session

2022-23

Subjects

Arts Technology GCSE

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk