Browse
Membership
Why join? Member benefits Healthcare HMCA discounts benefits For Individuals For Students and ECTs For Educational Institutions NSEAD Member Assistance Programme Member Portal Join Us
Resources
The Big Landscape Anti-Racist Art Education Curriculum Primary Education Teaching Inspiration Films & Videos Research, reports and reviews Health & Safety
Publications
AD Magazine iJADE The Art Educator Blog NSEAD Shop Archive
Courses & Events
What's On iJADE 2023 CPD and Training E-Learning
Professional Learning Community
About NSEAD NSEAD Awards Advocacy Policy and Research groups NSEAD Directories Regional Networks Groups NSEAD Art activists
News
Trade Union
About the union How to seek help Legal advice & aid Trade Union FAQs Careers advice COVID-19 Advice and Guidance Useful Links Introducing Sensitive Topics into the Art, Craft and Design Curriculum TOOLKIT
Join Us

Provisional art and design candidate numbers for arts and design subjects

Ofqual have published provisional candidate entries for all subjects at GCSE and A level. Art and design GCSEs have risen, A level entries have continued to fall.

Entries for GCSE, AS and A level, Summer 2019 exam series show the following changes:

Art and design A level:

A 3% decrease from 40,300 (2018) to 39,170.(2019)

AS level:

A 41% decrease (Note: all subjects combined have seen a fall of -46%)

Art and design GCSE:

An 8% increase from 168,765 (2018) 184,060 (2019)

Other arts and design not subjects:

There has been a large decrease in candidate numbers for Design & Technology (D&T). NSEAD first reported on the concerning and continued fall in numbers in 2018. The decrease was -7.5%. One year on the decrease is reported by Ofqual to be as much as -28%. Whilst Ofqual suggests that the fall may reflect the changes to the D&T specifications, NSEAD members are continuing to report that they are being asked to teach graphic communication; textile design and three-dimensional design within D&T departments.

We are concerned therefore that the apparent rise in GCSE Art and Design masks the true picture of how and where it is being taught. Whether it is within D&T departments by art and design trained teachers or by D&T trained teachers, there is a real risk that students are being offered a curriculum lacking breadth and depth. If this is the case, opportunities for arts and design pathways are actually being reduced, with implications for art and design provision across all key stages and progression on to degree-level study.

We will continue to support NSEAD members to help them and their departments in making clear and explicit the important distinction between art and design and D&T, and the Society cannot and will not support the reduction in curriculum time, breadth and expertise that is resulting in some cases from the closure of subject disciplines.

The increase in art and design GCSE subjects has been widely reported by Nick Gibb, Minister for School Standards, as proof that the EBacc is not impacting on arts subjects. However, less widely reported is the continued reduction of candidate numbers this year in D&T (-28%), media/Film and TV studies (-12%); music (-3%) and drama (-1%).

Download Ofqual's data and report here

The Society is currently evidencing these changes and welcomes any comments or examples from teachers of art and design who may have experienced changes to their art and design and D&T curriculum or examination offer. This may be reflected in changes to staffing, timetable, curriculum and/or examination endorsements offered. Please email your comments to Michele Gregson.

Back
When
3rd June 2019
Share

See the latest NSEAD News Stories

The Black British Voices Project

The Black British Voices Project, is a 104-page report (published September 2023) reveals that extremely high levels of distrust and discrimination are…

Find out more
News Logo
The DfE have listened and are reinstating ITT art and design bursaries
news
Initial Teacher Education
DFE

It will be good news for art educators intending to apply or starting their teacher training in 2024-25, as trainees in our subject will once again receive…

Find out more
ABS
Government announces qualification reform
news

On Wednesday the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak announced a major reform of Post 16 qualifications in England. The Advanced British Standard (ABS) for 16-18…

Find out more
exams 2023 (i)
Examinations 2023 – a time of change, churn and achievement
news

Across the UK and beyond, many young people today have received their assessment grades – a ‘final’ snapshot of their 11-16 learning journey. We want…

Find out more
Learn More
About NSEAD T&Cs Support us Letter to Gillian Keegan Funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Legal / Privacy News Letter Invest in arts subjects to protect our children’s futures
Company
Support our work
Support
01225 810134 Contact Us
Advertise with us
Learn more
Follow Us
© 2023 NSEAD | All Rights Reserved
Site by Grandad Digital