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One Dance UK Reports Increase in the Number of Students taking GCSE Dance

Ofqual last week released full entry figures for all GCSE qualifications. One Dance UK are pleased to report an increase in the number of entries for AQA GCSE Dance in the current academic year. The number of entries has risen by 8%, the first increase in several years, with over 200 new schools delivering the qualification, including schools in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.

Sandra Allen, Head of Creative Arts at AQA says

“We are delighted to see this increase of entries for GCSE Dance. Over 200 new schools signing up to study GCSE Dance is such a positive step following the years of decline in the subject. We hope that this increase will continue in future years and we are here to support all schools in any way we can.  And if anyone would like to talk to us about moving to GCSE Dance please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at AQA.”

One Dance UK, the sector support organisation for dance, advocate for the inclusion of high-quality dance in education and endeavour to support schools wishing to increase their dance provision. These statistics may include some schools who have made the decision to transfer to GCSE Dance from other qualifications, however we hope to see the numbers increase in all dance qualifications over the coming years. This is a positive development for AQA GCSE Dance and these figures are a small step towards One Dance UK’s vision of dance being accessible to all young people.

Andrew Hurst, Chief Executive of One Dance UK says “We are encouraged by the upturn in numbers of students studying GCSE Dance in 2019, following a long period of decline since the introduction of the Ebacc in 2010. This is indicative of the strong value of arts subjects and their important contribution to a broad and balanced curriculum.”