Responding to a University of Cambridge study which found schools, families and social pressures are channelling young people away from studying creative subjects and are linked to class and gender inequalities in the UK’s creative industries, Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Over the last decade the Ebacc has skewed curriculum and qualification choices in schools, with this government policy steering most pupils to take GCSEs in subjects considered more ‘academic’ than creative.

“High-stakes accountability means schools have had little choice but to go along with this as they are measured on the number of pupils who take GCSEs in these core subjects and how well young people do in them.

“We are pleased that the current administration has moved to scrap the Ebacc, recognising the negative impact it has had on take-up of creative and arts subjects.

“While this should improve student choice, and open doors to arts careers, the government must ensure schools can recruit the specialist teachers they need and invest in the resources and equipment required to increase their offer in these subjects after years in which they have been squeezed out.”