What Is the EBacc? Everything You Need to Know
What is the EBacc? It is one of the most talked-about and most misunderstood parts of the GCSE system. Many parents and students believe it is a qualification. It is not. Many think their child needs to “pass” it. They do not. Many do not realise it is being scrapped. It is.
The English Baccalaureate is a school performance measure. It tracks how many students in a school study a particular set of academic GCSE subjects. It was introduced in 2010, it has shaped school timetables ever since, and as of November 2025 the government has confirmed it will be removed. Here is everything you actually need to know.
What Is the EBacc?
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is a performance indicator created by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2010 under Education Secretary Michael Gove. It measures the percentage of students in a school who study and achieve GCSEs in five specific academic subject areas: English, Maths, Sciences, a Language, and a Humanity.
The EBacc is used in school league tables. When Ofsted inspects a school, when parents compare schools on the DfE performance tables, and when the government assesses whether schools are providing a “broad and balanced” academic curriculum, the EBacc entry rate is one of the numbers they look at.
It Is NOT a Qualification
This is the single most important thing to understand. Your child will never receive an “EBacc certificate.” The EBacc does not appear on their GCSE results slip. It is not something they sit an exam for. It is a label applied to schools, not to students.
If your child takes English Language, English Literature, Maths, Combined Science, French, and Geography, they are technically studying EBacc subjects. But they do not “get” the EBacc. Their school's league table entry will reflect that they studied the EBacc combination. That is the extent of it.
The EBacc tells you what percentage of a school's students study a specific set of academic GCSEs. It tells you nothing about whether an individual student has a particular qualification.
EBacc vs International Baccalaureate
Despite the similar name, the EBacc and the International Baccalaureate (IB) are completely different things. The IB is an actual qualification, typically studied over two years as an alternative to A-levels, with its own exams, coursework, extended essay, and diploma. The EBacc is a statistical measure of GCSE subject choices. The names are confusingly similar, but the reality could not be more different.
| Feature | English Baccalaureate (EBacc) | International Baccalaureate (IB) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A school performance measure | An actual qualification |
| Level | GCSE (Key Stage 4) | Post-16 (alternative to A-levels) |
| Certificate | None (students get nothing) | IB Diploma awarded |
| Exams | No separate exams | Has its own exams and coursework |
| Who decides | DfE, for school league tables | IB Organisation, globally |
The only thing they share is the word 'Baccalaureate'. Everything else is different.
The Five EBacc Subject Pillars
To count towards the EBacc, a student must study GCSEs in all five of the following areas. Missing even one pillar means the student's results do not contribute to the school's EBacc figure.
Notice the English requirement: students must take both English Language and English Literature. If a student only takes one (which is rare but does happen in some schools), they cannot count towards EBacc even if they study all the other subjects.
For Sciences, there is flexibility. Combined Science (worth 2 GCSEs) satisfies the requirement. Alternatively, students taking Triple Science need at least two of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Computer Science also counts as a science for EBacc purposes.
The EBacc is not about doing 5 GCSEs. Because English Language and English Literature are both required, and because Combined Science is worth 2 GCSEs, a student taking the full EBacc combination typically takes 7 or 8 GCSEs across these five pillar areas. They can then choose additional subjects on top of that.
How the EBacc Is Measured
Since 2018, the EBacc has been measured using an Average Point Score (APS) system. Rather than simply reporting what percentage of students “passed” EBacc subjects, the APS captures the average grade achieved across EBacc subjects. This gives a more nuanced picture of school performance.
The EBacc is one of several school performance measures. It sits alongside Attainment 8 (the average grade across 8 subjects) and Progress 8 (how much progress students make compared to similar students nationally). Together, these three measures form the backbone of secondary school accountability.
| Measure | What It Tracks | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| EBacc APS | Average grade in EBacc subjects | Points assigned per grade, averaged across the 5 pillars |
| Attainment 8 | Average grade across 8 subjects | 7 of 10 slots are reserved for EBacc subjects |
| Progress 8 | Progress relative to national peers | Compares actual grades vs predicted from KS2 results |
| EBacc entry rate | % of students entered for all 5 pillars | Binary: either a student is entered for all 5 or they are not |
Source: GOV.UK Secondary Accountability Measures 2025 guidance.
An important detail: within Attainment 8, 7 of the 10 scoring slots are reserved for EBacc subjects (with double weighting for English and Maths). This means the EBacc does not just affect its own measure; it heavily influences Attainment 8 as well. Schools that want strong Attainment 8 scores have a structural incentive to push students towards EBacc subjects.
What Do the Numbers Actually Show?
The government set ambitious targets for EBacc entry: 75% of students studying the full EBacc by 2022, and 90% by 2025. The reality has been very different.
The entry rate flat-lined at around 40% from 2014 onwards, barely moving despite over a decade of policy pressure. But the EBacc did have a measurable effect on what students did not study. The data from FFT Education Datalab (March 2025) paints a striking picture:
The data tells a clear story. While the EBacc did not succeed in getting 90% of students to study all five pillars, it did succeed in squeezing non-EBacc subjects out of school timetables. The mean number of non-EBacc subjects per pupil fell from 3.2 in 2015 to 2.1 in 2024. That is subjects like Art, Music, Drama, Design & Technology, and vocational qualifications that lost timetable space to make room for EBacc subjects.
The government wanted 90% of students studying the full EBacc by 2025. The actual figure remains around 40%. Meanwhile, the number of schools where no student at all takes three or more non-EBacc subjects rose from 13 in 2015 to 235 in 2024. The EBacc did not achieve its stated aim, but it significantly narrowed subject choice.
The Controversy
Few education policies have been as divisive as the EBacc. It has vocal supporters who argue it protects academic rigour, and equally vocal critics who argue it has narrowed the curriculum at the expense of creative and vocational subjects. Both sides have evidence.
The Case For the EBacc
- •Ensures a broad academic core for all students, preventing schools from sidelining rigorous subjects
- •Sutton Trust: early adopters saw EBacc entry rise from 8% to 48%
- •Pupils more likely to achieve good GCSEs and continue to A-levels
- •Students 1.8pp less likely to drop out of education entirely
- •Pupil premium students benefited most from the academic push
The Case Against the EBacc
- •Narrowed curriculum, harming Art, Music, Drama and vocational subjects
- •Francis Review: EBacc "may unnecessarily constrain choice of students"
- •Language teacher shortage makes the language pillar unrealistic for many schools
- •Pupil premium: ~8% gap in languages, ~11% gap in humanities take-up
- •Only ~40% study full EBacc despite 90% target, suggesting it is not appropriate for all
What Supporters Say
The Sutton Trust findings are significant. Schools that embraced the EBacc early saw measurable improvements in student outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged students. The argument is straightforward: without the EBacc, some schools would offer less academically rigorous subjects to their most disadvantaged students, effectively limiting their future options before they even reached sixth form.
What Critics Say
The equity argument cuts both ways. While supporters point to benefits for disadvantaged students, the data also shows persistent gaps. Pupil premium students remain significantly less likely to take EBacc languages (around an 8% gap, or roughly 11,000 students) and EBacc humanities (around an 11% gap, or roughly 15,000 students). The EBacc set a standard that disadvantaged students were least able to meet, partly because their schools were least able to provide the required teaching.
November 2025: The EBacc Is Being Scrapped
In July 2024, the government commissioned Professor Becky Francis to lead a comprehensive Curriculum and Assessment Review. The final report was published in November 2025, and its headline recommendation was clear: scrap the EBacc as a school performance measure.
The government accepted this recommendation. The guiding principle for implementation is “evolution not revolution”, with full changes expected around 2028. The EBacc will not disappear overnight, but its days as a formal accountability measure are numbered.
What the Francis Review Recommended
Scrap the EBacc as a school performance measure
The central recommendation. Remove the EBacc from school league tables and stop using it as a metric for school accountability. This is intended to give schools more freedom in curriculum design.
Reduce GCSE exam time by 10%+
Shorten the total examination burden on students. The review found the current volume of exams to be excessive and damaging to student wellbeing.
Year 8 diagnostic tests in English and Maths
Introduce standardised diagnostics in Year 8 to identify students who need additional support before GCSEs begin.
Triple Science entitlement for all students
Ensure every student has the option to take Triple Science if they want to, addressing the current inequality where some schools do not offer it.
Mandatory Citizenship, new oracy framework, RE in national curriculum
Broaden the required curriculum to include subjects that the EBacc framework had marginalised. Citizenship becomes mandatory, speaking skills get a formal framework, and Religious Education joins the national curriculum.
This is crucial. Scrapping the EBacc does not make English, Maths, Science, Languages, or Humanities less valuable. These remain among the most respected and most useful GCSEs. What changes is how schools are measured. Schools will no longer be judged on the percentage of students taking this specific combination, which should give them more flexibility to offer a broader curriculum.
Does the EBacc Matter for University?
No. Universities do not use the EBacc as an admissions criterion. No university asks “did you complete the EBacc?” on their application form. UCAS does not track it. Admissions tutors do not care about it.
However, many university courses do require subjects that happen to be EBacc subjects. A Modern Languages degree requires a language. A STEM degree typically requires science and maths. A History degree requires History. The subjects themselves matter; the EBacc label does not.
What Universities Actually Care About
- •A-level grades (or equivalent Level 3 qualifications)
- •GCSE grades in English and Maths (grade 4+ typically required)
- •Relevant subject choices at A-level for competitive courses
- •Personal statement, references, and interview for selective programmes
What Universities Do NOT Care About
- •Whether the student "completed the EBacc", this term has no meaning in admissions
- •How many EBacc subjects the student took beyond what the specific course requires
- •The school's EBacc entry rate, this is entirely irrelevant to individual applications
- •Whether the school was above or below national EBacc benchmarks
Russell Group universities do value breadth of academic subjects at GCSE, which broadly aligns with the philosophy behind the EBacc. But they care about the individual subjects and grades, not about whether those subjects tick the EBacc box. A student with strong GCSEs in English, Maths, Sciences, and History who dropped their language in favour of Art is not disadvantaged in university admissions just because they are not “EBacc complete.”
What Students Should Do Now
The EBacc is being scrapped, but the subjects within it are not going anywhere. Here is what this means for students choosing their GCSEs right now:
The EBacc subjects remain the most broadly useful GCSEs
English, Maths, Science, a Language, and a Humanity are still the subjects that keep the most doors open for A-levels, apprenticeships, and university. The EBacc label is disappearing; the value of these subjects is not.
Choose at least one humanity and consider a language
History or Geography alongside core subjects is still strong advice for almost every student. A language GCSE is increasingly valuable in a globalised job market and remains a requirement for many university language courses. Even without EBacc pressure, these are wise choices.
Schools may offer more flexibility in option blocks
With the EBacc removed from league tables, schools have less incentive to force students into specific subject combinations. This could mean more option slots, more creative and vocational subjects available, and less rigidity in timetabling. Ask your school what changes they are planning.
Focus on subjects you enjoy and will succeed in
The best GCSE choices are subjects where you will achieve strong grades and that align with your interests and post-16 plans. A grade 8 in Art is better than a grade 4 in a language you hated. Choose strategically, not because of a measure that is being removed.
Check specific requirements for your target sixth form or college
Some sixth forms and colleges have specific GCSE entry requirements for certain A-level subjects. These requirements exist independently of the EBacc and will not change when the EBacc is scrapped. Always verify what you need directly.
The EBacc was a school measure, not a student goal. Its removal changes how schools are judged, not which subjects are worth studying. English, Maths, Science, Languages, and Humanities were valuable before the EBacc existed and will remain valuable after it is gone. Choose your GCSEs based on your strengths, your interests, and your future plans, not based on a performance metric designed for league tables.
For help choosing GCSE options, see our guide on how many GCSEs you need. For understanding how grades work across your subjects, see our GCSE grade boundaries explained guide.
