Subject choices ‘restricted by EBacc’

The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, has published by the results of its online survey of more than 2,500 teachers.

42% said the introduction of the EBacc has had a negative impact on perceptions of their school’s effectiveness among parents, pupils and the community.

The key subject areas to see declines were: art (16%), design and technology (16%), ICT (15%), PSHE (14%), citizenship (14%), music (14%) and religious education (13%).

The survey also showed that specialist teachers are leaving and not being replaced, being made redundant or having their hours cut.

Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:

“This survey is further damning evidence that educational entitlements for our children and young people are being stripped away.

“The Secretary of State is ploughing on regardless with his ideological agenda, despite the fact that young people are being denied access to important subjects and their learning opportunities are being restricted by this and their parents’ ability to pay.

“Add to this that children are no longer entitled to be taught by a qualified teacher, cannot access funding to support their participation in further education, and with vocational subjects downgraded, it is clear that children from ordinary families are being denied access to a broad and balanced education to which they were entitled before the Coalition Government came into office.”

In the survey 15% of teachers reported that vacant posts in non-EBacc subject areas had been left unfilled and a further 15% reported that teachers of non-EBacc subjects have had their teaching hours cut.