Nick Gibb has said there is a correlation between schools that have significantly increased their EBacc entries and increased take up of arts subjects.

The schools standards minister was speaking at the researchED national conference in London this morning.

He was questioned about concerns that creative subjects have been pushed to the margin by the emphasis on traditional academic subjects in the EBacc.

He said: “I don’t accept this argument that the EBacc is driving the arts out of curriculum.”

Mr Gibb told the event: “The only correlation there is between the EBacc and the uptake of creative subjects, the only small correlation, is that those schools that have seen a significant increase in their EBacc entry have also seen a small increase in their arts uptake.”

The minister said that in this year’s GCSEs entries to art and design went up, while music A levels also went up.

He added that the proportion of pupils taking at least one arts GCSE has remained “broadly stable” over the period of the EBacc.

He told the audience: “There is plenty of scope beyond the EBacc, that’s seven or eight GCSEs depending on whether you take double or triple science, there is scope beyond the EBacc to take creative subjects.

“Creative subjects are compulsory in our school system from five to 14 and it’s an entitlement after the age of 14 if you want to take those subjects.”

However, he said he was “concerned” about the key stage 3 curriculum, and said the DfE is “working with some subject experts at what we can do to improve the content at key stage 3 of music, art, drama, dance and so on”.