A step in the right direction for arts education

30th April 2026

Today we submitted our response to the Department for Education’s consultation on Key Stage 4 performance measures. The proposals could be a step in the right direction but unlikely to have a significant impact without further support.

We welcome the proposed reforms to the Progress 8 school accountability measure, which would place creative subjects – art, photography, music, drama, dance, design and technology - on an equal footing with humanities and languages. This change would make it easier for pupils to choose more than one creative GCSE and could help teachers make the case for more curriculum time and funding.

The Government’s proposed model for Progress 8 and Attainment 8 from their consultation document

The reforms follow the Government’s decision to scrap the EBacc (English Baccalaureate). Introduced in 2010, the EBacc de-prioritised arts subjects in secondary school accountability measurement. This led to a decline in these subjects, the teachers and resources available, and consequently a lower uptake of arts subjects at GCSE and A Level.*

Whilst the proposed changes are a positive step, the changes may fall short of the Government’s ambition for arts education. Having three categories (arts, humanities and languages) within the Breadth buckets means pupils can choose a humanities subject and a language and ignore the creative category. A school that focused on the former EBacc subjects (which included humanities and languages) would therefore not need to make any changes in order to implement the new model.

Furthermore, the baseline for progress measures is still Key Stage 2 performance in English and maths, which does not help measure the skills and creative processes that are needed for success in the arts, photogaphy, performing arts, music and design.

The proposal to add science to the ‘breadth’ slot, alongside two new other slots for science subjects, could undermine the aim to broaden the curriculum altogether.

To truly revitalise creative subjects like music and the arts, the Government must tackle the shortage of creative subject teachers, increase funding for all arts education and incentivise teaching a full arts curriculum, beyond these changes to Progress 8.

*https://www.anewdirection.org.uk/asset/8342

Feature photo by Daniele Fasoli on Unsplash‍ ‍