Theguardian iconTheguardianSep 4, 2026 ~1 min source read

The Guardian view on music and drama education: reversing elitism starts at school | Editorial

The number of students taking creative subjects at A-level and GCSE is at a record low. It has the widest attainment gap for disadvantaged students of any subject.

The Guardian view on music and drama education: reversing elitism starts at school | Editorial

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Useful takeaways from this story.

The number of students taking creative subjects at A-level and GCSE is at a record low.

It has the widest attainment gap for disadvantaged students of any subject.

A-level drama entries have almost halved in 10 years, with by far the biggest drop in state schools.

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The useful part

The number of students taking creative subjects at A-level and GCSE is at a record low. It has the widest attainment gap for disadvantaged students of any subject. A-level drama entries have almost halved in 10 years, with by far the biggest drop in state schools.

How it works

  • Leading universities have been forced to close music departments and arts courses.
  • The number of teachers training in creative subjects has also declined sharply over the past 15 years.

What to take from it

Forty per cent of state schools no longer even offer music or drama GCSEs.

Details worth keeping

The arts must not become the preserve of the most privileged. Private violin lessons are beyond the purse strings of most parents. It is no coincidence that the Ebacc, which prioritised core academic su...

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