News

Ofqual publish GCSE and A Level entry numbers for 2018

08 June 2018

Arts GCSE entries continue to fall:

-9% decline in arts GCSE entries 2017 to 2018

-34% decline in arts GCSE entries since 2010

Qfqual has published data on the number of students entered for GCSEs and A Levels in England this summer. The figures anticipate the exam entry numbers which the Joint Council for Qualifications will publish in August.

Ofqual numbers are always slightly higher than the final number of qualifications sat since students can be entered for an exam but then, for a variety of reasons, may not sit the exam. We anticipate, as in past years, that the final entry numbers reported in August will be lower than the Ofqual numbers here.

In this post we look at entries to Art & Design, Design & Technology, Drama, Media/Film/TV studies, Music and Performing/Expressive Arts. Dance GCSE entries are included within PE entries by Ofqual so we are unable to report them until AQA, the awarding body for Dance GCSE, publishes the figures in August.

The number of England only entries are:

 

JCQ numbers

Ofqual

 

% change

 

2010

2017

2018

 

2010 to 2018 

2017 to 2018

Art and Design subjects

172504

162,348

168,765

 

-2%

4%

Design and Technology

270401

153,929

117,605

 

-57%

-24%

Drama

81592

61703

58,595

 

-28%

-5%

Media/Film/TV Studies

63808

44865

41,925

 

-34%

-7%

Music

46045

38,376

35,895

 

-22%

-6%

Performing/expressive arts

23505

14704

8,795

 

-63%

-40%

Total

657855

475925

431,580

 

-34%

-9%

In contrast, entries to History GCSE have risen +4% 2017 to 2018 and +23% since 2010. Similarly, Geography GCSE entries rose by +6% in 2017 to 2018, and +40% since 2010. History and Geography are included in the English Baccalaureate and Progress 8 performance measures.

Art & Design

Art & Design subject entries are broadly stable compared to 2017, although there has been a decline of -2% since 2010. However, as the Education Policy Institute report in to Key Stage 4 entries showed, Art & Design GCSE entries have been buoyed by schools switching students to the GCSE away from the BTEC. This means that overall, students in schools are doing fewer Art & Design qualifications.

A Level entries

A Level entries show a similar pattern to GCSE, with the greatest decline (D&T and Performing/Expressive Arts) the same as at GCSE level: to progress to A Level you need to have studied the subject at GCSE or Key Stage 4.

 

JCQ figures

Ofqual figures

% change

 

2010

2017

2018

2010 to 2018

2017 to 2018

Art and Design subjects

42577

40470

40300

-5%

0%

Design and Technology

16519

10657

9,780

-41%

-8%

Drama

15144

10751

10,260

-32%

-5%

Media/Film/TV studies

31032

24450

23,175

-25%

-5%

Music

8790

5610

5,485

-38%

-2%

Performing/expressive arts

3666

1744

1310

-64%

-25%

total

117728

93682

90310

-23%

-4%

Results analysis in August

We will publish the full GCSE and A Level arts entries results in August. To get first sight of the numbers do make sure you are a Cultural Learning Alliance member (it is free to join!), and are signed up to our newsletter.