Art and design A level (GCE) entries have decreased very slightly this year, whilst across nearly all grades, art and design candidate attainment has risen. However, there is no room for complacency, with some continues to be attainment gaps still not closing.
Here's our subject-specific analysis and that you need to know:
Examination Entries
According to JCQ, the number of students taking A levels is stable, with 341,577 students taking A levels in 2025; 2024, 341,710 students took A levels. JCQ note the number of entries has dropped by 0.5%. Art and design numbers have seen a very slight decrease of 1.2% (43,124 to 43,668).
The percentage of students taking art and design has however remained stable this year – staying at 4.9% (of the overall entries). However, long-term comparisons show that entries (percentage overall entries) have not returned to the percentage recorded in 2010 when it was 5.4% (46,054). This compares to 4.9% (43,124) this year. This is a 0.5% difference (total fall of 2,930 entries).
Art and design is now the ninth most popular subject. In 2024 it was the eighth most popular subject. In 2020 and 2019 it was the sixth most popular subject (source JCQ).
Attainment
We congratulate teachers and their students for the rise in grades. Across the UK, there has been an increase in numbers achieving A*-C grades
Art and design has seen a 2.0% percentage uplift at A* (Overall 83,334 A* grades have been awarded, up 0.1 percentage point.)
For A*-A a 3.5% uplift (overall increase of 0.5 percentage points compared to 2024.)
For A*-E a 0.3% uplift (overall increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to 2024.)
Across the UK, art and design has the third highest number of students achieving an A* and A.
Gender attainment and achievement gaps
Achievement: Compared to last year there has been a slight decrease in the percentage entries for male candidates – 2.6% of overall entries in 2025 compared to 2.7% in 2024. Female candidates remain at 6.8% of overall entries.
Attainment: A*-A: there is an increase of male A*-A grades is 2.8% (2024: 25.2% and 28.0% in 2025).
The increase of female A*-A grades is 3.6% (2024: 34.1% and 37.7% in 2024).
National and Regional attainment (source JCQ)
Overall, Northern Ireland has the highest achievement of students awarded an A* (16.9% 2024: 13.9). England achieved 15.9% (13.9% in 2024) and Wales achieved 15.1%). Wales and NI both achieved a 3 percentage point increases. A 2 percentage point increase was observed in England this year.
Regional: (source analytics.ofqual.gov.uk/apps/Alevel/County)
There has been improvement across many regions in England. In 2023 there were ten regions (Northumberland; North Yorkshire; East Riding and Yorkshire; Nottinghamshire; Northamptonshire; West Midlands; Staffordshire; Bedfordshire; Suffolk; County of Bristol) who achieved 20-25% A*-A. This year, there are only two regions achieving these same grades. We are still seeing many regional variations, meaning there is much work to address to achieve the regional equality of opportunity.
Michele Gregson, CEO and general secretary of NSEAD says:
We want to congratulate ALL students and teachers for helping young people to achieve their potential. Indeed, across all subjects, the UCAS university admissions administrator has reported a record rise (4.7%) of 18-year-olds in the UK who got a place at university or college for this autumn.
In this year’s results, across regions and nationally, we can see there has been a rise in standards and improved results. Art and design has seen a fantastic 3.5% increase in grades awarded at A* and A, a testament to the hard work of our dedicated teachers and the commitment of our students. But, there are variations in both the number of students and the grades they achieve across regions. No child should have their life chances diminished due to their postcode or address. And the gender gap persists. Whilst some subjects have made progress to close the gender attainment gap, in art and design we continue to see boys falling behind.There is still much work to do to close equity gaps.
The number of A level entries each year is an important indicator of the health of our subject. After years of stable uptake we saw a sudden decline in numbers opting for both art and design ‘A’ level and vocational qualifications 2022. Although art and design remains a popular subject, the decline in entries has not been reversed, whilst subjects that have been championed by the previous Government continue to grow.
So, in a year where outstanding results have been achieved, how can we ensure that all learners are able to shine? We call on the government to help our teachers and members ensure excellent provision and equity of opportunity for all, with real investment in our classrooms, our workforce, and our subject.
Appendices: Tables and more information
1. A Level Entries 2024-25
England
| Art & Design subjects | 2025 | 40293 |
| 1.21% decrease | 2024 | 40788 |
NI
| Art & Design subjects | 2025 | 865 |
| 4.52% decrease | 2024 | 906 |
Wales
| Art & Design subjects | 2025 | 1621 |
| 0.62% decrease | 2024 | 1611 |
2/3. Attainment and gender across UK, (JCQ)
| year | Entries | % of total sate | A* | A*-A | A*-B | A-C | A*-D | A*-E | ||
| Art & Design subjects | Male | 2025 | 10517 | 2.6 | 12.6 | 28.0 | 57.9 | 82.8 | 94.3 | 99.0 |
| Male | 2024 | 10894 | 2.7 | 11.0 | 25.2 | 53.7 | 79.0 | 93.0 | 98.4 | |
| Female | 2025 | 32607 | 6.8 | 17.0 | 37.7 | 69.9 | 90.3 | 97.4 | 99.5 | |
| Female | 2024 | 32774 | 6.8 | 14.8 | 34.1 | 66.8 | 88.2 | 96.7 | 99.3 | |
| Male & Female | 2025 | 43124 | 4.9 | 15.9 | 35.4 | 67.0 | 88.5 | 96.6 | 99.4 | |
| Male & Female | 2024 | 43668 | 4.9 | 13.9 | 31.9 | 63.5 | 85.9 | 95.8 | 99.1 |
4. National variations in A grades and above (JCQ)
England
| A Level England | Art & Design subjects | Year | Total sat | A* | A*-A |
| 2025 | 40293 | 15.9 | 35.4 | ||
| 2024 | 40788 | 13.9 | 32.0 |
Northern Ireland
| A Level N Ireland | Art & Design subjects | Year | Total sat | A* | A*-A |
| 2025 | 865 | 16.9 | 34.7 | ||
| 2024 | 906 | 13.9 | 32.8 |
Wales
| A Level Wales | Art & Design subjects | Year | Total sat | A* | A*-A |
| 2025 | 1621 | 15.1 | 32.9 | ||
| 2024 | 1611 | 12.1 | 28.6 |