UK government set to scrap English baccalaureate, which made arts education 'the preserve of a privileged few'

"The EBacc, introduced in 2010 by the the then education secretary Michael Gove, requires pupils to study a minimum of seven GCSEs, including maths and a language, but the options do not include any arts subjects. Schools have subsequently been forced to concentrate on these core subjects with arts options increasingly excluded, campaigners say. Under the new system, according to The Times, teenagers will be expected to take English, maths and two single sciences or combined science."

"This is a dramatic turnaround, following 14 years of arts and creative education being eroded in our schools. The EBacc, a measure which at one stroke made arts and culture the preserve of a privileged few, is to be scrapped, a bold recommendation that is to be hugely applauded and which marks a major move towards reducing inequality. We are also delighted that the arts, together with the humanities and languages will form the fifth pillar of a true and rounded education for"

A government-commissioned report recommends scrapping the English Baccalaureate (EBacc). The EBacc, introduced in 2010 by Michael Gove, required pupils to take at least seven GCSEs including maths and a language but excluded arts subjects. Schools shifted curriculum focus to EBacc subjects, reducing arts options. Proposed requirements would ask pupils to take English, maths, two sciences, two GCSEs from creative, humanities or languages, and two free-choice subjects. The education ministry says arts GCSEs will be given equal status with humanities and languages to boost confidence and employability. Arts GCSE participation has fallen 42% over 15 years, with 40.5% entered for EBacc in 2024/25.

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