Government education policies have had a negative impact on art, craft and design subjects, a new survey has found.

The National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD) found that these creative subjects are suffering because politicians are placing ever greater emphasis on core subjects.

In its poll, it reported that 52 per cent of all heads of departments "agree/strongly agree" that the introduction of the English Baccalaureate has played an "important role" in the organisation of the art, craft and design curriculum in their school.

The study also showed that fewer teachers in these subjects are being trained, with increasing numbers of non-specialists managing these lessons.

Additionally, art and design teachers, in comparison to the peers specialising in core subjects, receive very little or no professional development and feel undervalued, especially among senior staff and governors.

"What this shows is that these policies have impacted significantly on a third and up to a half of schools," Sophie Leach, assistant general secretary of NSEAD, was quoted by TES as saying.

"Performance measures that exclude or marginalise art and design are impacting on key stage three and four provision. A significant number of specialists in posts rarely or never receive training and opportunities for pupils to work with creative practitioners or visit galleries and museums have been reduced."

The findings of this survey support research that came out earlier this year. An Ipsos Mori study, which was commissioned by the Department for Education, revealed that a quarter of schools had withdrawn art courses for the academic year 2012/13, all because of the introduction of the English Baccalaureate.

According to the government, the English Baccalaureate is a "performance measure" and not therefore a qualification. While not compulsory, it is something that Ofsted takes into consideration when delivering inspections at schools.

It is made up of English, mathematics, history or geography, the sciences and a language.