Jack Gamble, director of Campaign for the Arts, described the reduction as “further evidence of the disturbing decline in arts education in English secondary schools, about which we and many others have been sounding the alarm for years now”.

“At last, the government has started to act through a much-needed Curriculum and Assessment Review – and their pledge to “revitalise arts education” is a genuinely positive step forward.

“However, these provisional entries underline the need to follow through on that pledge with ambition and urgency. It also means making sure that there are enough trained teachers, and adequate resources, to deliver the high-quality arts education every child deserves,” he said.