NEU: Exam results show EBacc in decline

“Today’s results show EBacc entries are now declining and confirms that the DfE must abandon the delusional expectation that 90% of children will take it. Teachers and leaders, who know their pupils better than Ministers ever could, continue to reject the policy.

“Since 2010 too many children have been pushed on to inappropriate subject pathways and denied the opportunity to thrive in other valuable and challenging subjects. The EBacc policy is squeezing subjects such as Art, Music, Technology and Drama out of the curriculum, as confirmed today by the falling numbers entered into these subjects. These are not soft options, but rigorous academic subjects vital to the prosperity of our economy and the enrichment of our society.

“The Progress 8 measures are confusing to parents, rely on the dodgy use of statistics, and penalise schools for providing a rich and challenging curriculum to all pupils. When even Ofsted are worried that Government accountability policy is narrowing the curriculum something is clearly wrong. A total rethink is needed on how we hold schools to account, so that schools are rewarded, not punished, for supporting every child to achieve their potential.”