GCSE drama entries decrease further amid calls for urgent reforms

Statistics released by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) on GCSE results day have revealed that the number of students who sat the GCSE drama exam across the UK has decreased by 6.4% since 2021, with only 57,308 entries in 2022. 

Having been in steady decline for years, entries for GCSE drama and performing arts in England have continued to decline this year amid calls for urgent reforms to the education system to better support the uptake and delivery of arts subjects.

The number of students taking drama in the UK has seen a decline of 30% since 2010, when there were 81,592 entries to the subject.

This mirrors a wider issue, as GCSE arts entries have fallen by 40% since 2010, and by 4% in the past year. 

Earlier this year, organisations such as the Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) have called for ‘urgent reforms’ to be made to the education system to prevent a further decline in entries to arts subjects.

Co-director of the CLA, Samantha Cairns, said: ‘We are concerned about the place of arts subjects in schools, as we strongly believe they are an essential part of a broad and balanced education and every child should have the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge, capacities and understanding that they offer.

‘Studying drama develops young people’s communication skills and empathy – skills employers value and will be ever more needed as we transition through the pandemic.’