Arts A-levels Hit Record Low in UK, Campaign for the Arts Reports
According to the Campaign for the Arts, art and design A-level entries reached a historic low of 4.7% in 2026, a decrease from 5.4% in 2010. Over the past sixteen years, total entries for arts A-levels have plummeted by more than a third, now representing only 10% of all submissions. A-level results were released on 13 August, while GCSE grades followed on 20 August. Since 2010, the proportion of arts subjects in GCSEs has nearly halved, dropping from 13.4% to 7%. There was a slight uptick in GCSE art and design entries, rising from 3.35% in 2025 to 3.41% in 2026. Jack Gamble described the arts' representation as "devastatingly low." The decline has been attributed to funding challenges and school performance metrics, as noted in the State of the Arts report. The Labour government intends to reform the EBacc and Progress 8.
Key facts
- Art and design A-level entries fell to 4.7% in 2026, the lowest share ever recorded.
- Total arts A-level entries now account for 10% of all entries, down from 16% in 2010.
- GCSE arts subjects share fell from 13.4% in 2010 to 7% in 2026.
- GCSE art and design entries rose slightly from 3.35% in 2025 to 3.41% in 2026.
- A-level results were announced on 13 August; GCSE grades on 20 August.
- Campaign for the Arts director Jack Gamble called the GCSE arts share 'devastatingly low'.
- The State of the Arts report (2024) by Campaign for the Arts and University of Warwick cited EBacc and Progress 8 as factors.
- Labour government plans to scrap EBacc and reform Progress 8.
- Alison Cole of The Cultural Policy Unit commented on the importance of arts in the age of AI.
Entities
Institutions
- Campaign for the Arts
- University of Warwick
- The Cultural Policy Unit
- The Art Newspaper
- Arts Professional
Locations
- United Kingdom
- England