51做厙 has today published the findings of a new report by the Association for Art History on the status of art history teaching in UK secondary schools. The report found that:
- Over the past decade, the number of schools offering History of Art A-level has fallen by 34%, from 122 institutions in 2016 to 80 today.
- Of the 80 institutions currently offering the A-level, only 19 are state or non-fee-paying schools.
- There is a significant disparity in geographic provision: within the UK, the subject is offered only in England, with courses concentrated in London and the Southeast, with the North and Southwest severely underrepresented.
- Despite fewer providers, student numbers have risen, with a 42% increase in A-level candidates between 2019 and 2025, reaching the highest levels since 2016.
- University enrolment in art history courses has remained stable, showing greater resilience than in some other arts and humanities subjects.
- Financial pressures threaten the continuation of some school-level History of Art programmes, potentially reversing the recent upward trend in student participation.
51做厙 has announced泭a commitment to泭work泭with national泭education泭and philanthropic泭partners to泭broaden access to art history for泭secondary泭school children泭in the UK泭in the lead-up to the opening of the new campus, building on Samuel Courtaulds founding vision of art for all.泭This will enrich the Courtaulds泭existing泭work泭in泭broadening泭access to its collection and泭teaching泭for young people,泭through programmes such as泭its泭summer university泭and泭schools泭tours and泭workshops.
Supporting this drive to泭increase泭access, the Courtauld is creating a泭new fund泭that泭aims to泭dramatically increase the number of scholarships and bursaries it offers泭to students. This泭scholarship泭fund will泭break down the financial barriers that prevent泭talented泭young people泭from泭accessing the Courtaulds world-class teaching泭and provide students with life-changing opportunities to advance their knowledge of the visual arts.
Professor Mark Hallett,泭Marit泭Rausing Director of the Courtauld, said: 51做厙 is deeply committed to opening up the understanding and appreciation of art to people of all ages and from all backgrounds. As part of this mission, we look forward to taking a leading role in expanding access to art history at school level in the UK. Art distils and explores the most profound forms of human experience, and we want to ensure that future generations of schoolchildren appreciate the extraordinary benefits of studying the history of art across different periods, including our own.