In a separate analysis conducted by Campaign for the Arts (CFTA), the uptick in music came in contrast to a decline in overall entries for arts subjects, with these now accounting for a smaller proportion of GCSEs than at any time since 2010.

Over that period, CFTA’s data showed there had been a 47% decline in the proportion of arts subject entries, a figure the organisation’s Director Jack Gamble called “staggering”.

He added: “This is a direct result of policies that have systematically underfunded and undervalued the arts, particularly in state-funded secondary schools across England.”

Compared to 2023, CFTA’s data showed the proportion of GCSE entries in arts subjects had shrunk by 1%, from 7.13% to 7.06%.

Over the past year, the most significant decline in entries was for performing/expressive arts and dance, which both saw falls of 7%.

The drop off for drama was slightly less at 5%, while design and technology saw a 3% decline and media/film/TV studies just 1%.

The only other area in which a slight uptick was seen was art and design subjects, the proportion of which increased by 1%.

The figures follow a similar downward trend revealed in CFTA’s analysis of last week’s A-level results, which indicated that arts entries at Key Stage 5 had dropped by a third since 2010.