“National Drama congratulates all students, centres and teachers who have received their A Level results today, with a massive well done to those who are brave, creative and resilient enough to opt for Drama, despite the last thirteen years of unhelpful Government policies. We salute those visionary state schools, who – like most private schools – provide Drama in KS3 and throughout into KS5!
The effect of the introduction of the English Baccalaureate measure of school performance (EBacc) in 2010, together with a generally negative attitude towards the arts has had the effect of reducing the numbers of students choosing to study the subject at KS5, by a staggering 43% since 2011, (ASCL – ASCL analysis shows collapse in creative arts A-level entries) and more generally have made the arts increasingly unavailable, misunderstood, belittled and undermined in state school settings. We believe that radically improving arts provision in state schools and in alternate provision will support achievement, attainment and high quality opportunities of all young people. (The-Arts-in-Schools-full-report-2023.pdf (culturallearningalliance.org.uk))
We hope the new Executive and Bridget Phillipson works their newly elected socks off to turn this around and actively support all youngsters choosing to study Drama and the Arts at GCSE, BTEC, T Level and A Level with professional levels of understanding and knowledge supported by the teacher training, inclusion of Drama into the KS2 and KS3 curriculum, and resources to enable this attitude change and excellence for all. We believe that when numbers of students studying a full variety of subjects are healthy the whole country benefits – and most importantly – so do the students and their communities.
We are now seeing smaller cohorts and the challenging grade boundaries that go with this – 93% for an A* in Drama compared to 77% in Media and 68% in Psychology. This is not a reflection of difficulty – National Drama believes Drama is as academically and aesthetically robust as other Arts, STEM and Core subjects. Numbers are much bigger in these areas, and the complex area of grade boundaries more reasonable as a result. National Drama hopes that with a new leadership and approach to Education next year we will see uptake increase.
Congratulations again, we know how much these outcomes represent in effort, endeavour and passion, – fingers crossed for GCSE and KS4 Results next week!”
