Music and drama will be squeezed out of timetable if pupils made to study English Baccalaureate, headteachers warn

Government move would mean vast majority of pupils would be taking at least seven GCSEs in prescribed EBacc subjects

Music and drama will be squeezed out of school timetables as a result of the Government’s move to insist 90 per cent of pupils study for the English Baccalaureate, headteachers have warned.

The Government move would mean the vast majority of pupils would be taking at least seven GCSEs in prescribed EBacc subjects - more than twice the number that do so at present.

However, the Association of School and College Leaders argues, this would leave only 20 per cent of a student’s time for creative and technology courses.

“It would be a tragedy if an unintended consequence of EBacc is that it becomes impossible for schools to run music and drama courses,” said Malcolm Trobe, ASCL’s acting general secretary.

“The danger is that these subjects will then end up becoming the preserve of the elite, accessible only to those who can afford private tuition.

“We agree with the Government that learning core academic subjects is crucial to the future of young people. We think that the EBacc needs to be more flexible to leave room for creative and technology subjects.”

The Government believes the EBacc subjects - English, maths, a foreign language, the sciences and history or geography are essential to enable more young people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, access to leading universities.

ASCL also wants religious education to be included as a humanities option alongside history or geography, adding that learning about religions “encourages tolerance and mutual respect - highly relevant in today’s society”.