The Campaign for the Arts’ analysis of 2025’s GCSE results reveals that the share of total entries in arts subjects has shrunk again, reaching a new low – but the rate of decline appears to be slowing.

Compared with last year, arts subjects made up a smaller but similar share of total entries with 7.04% in 2025 v 7.06% in 2024. But in 2010 arts subjects accounted for over 13% of total GCSE entries, meaning that in the past 15 years there has been a 48% decline.

Dance, Music and Performing / Expressive Arts all grew in popularity this year – by 9%, 7% and 9% respectively. But the longer-term trends are that all performing arts subjects have declined significantly at GCSE: Dance by 60%, Drama by 48%, Music by 35% and Performing/Expressive Arts by 72% since 2010, as a share of total entries.

Design and Technology has been the hardest-hit subject at GCSE, with the share of entries 74% smaller in 2025 than it was in 2010. Art & Design subjects have seen a smaller 4% decline over the same period.

Jack Gamble, director of the Campaign for the Arts, said:

“It’s encouraging to see increases in the number of Dance and Music entries this year, but worth noting that this is from a historically low baseline after big drops in GCSE entries across all performing arts subjects since 2010.

The exclusion of arts subjects from the English Baccalaureate, the lesser weighting given to them in the ‘Progress 8’ school performance measure, and funding pressures on schools have all contributed to this disastrous trend.

It’s vital that the Government acts to turn this around. Arts education matters – for our young people, for the future of the UK’s creative industries and for the health of our entire society and culture.”