The debate over the exclusion of arts subjects from the English Baccalaureate will be taken to the House of Commons after a petition to government reached 100,000 signatures.

Drama teacher Richard M Wilson, who created the petition, said "The EBacc will have a dreadful impact on the arts in our schools; but the 100,000 signatures is a testament to how much the arts and culture are loved and valued in the UK. We look forward to the debate we have managed to secure in parliament," he said.

The petition has been backed by campaign group Bacc for the Future, whose coordinator Deborah Annetts said: "The fact that 100,000 people have signed this petition truly shows how much the government has underestimated how much concern there is regarding their ill thought-out policy and the adverse impact it will have on creative subjects in schools. The forthcoming debate will be crucial development in the fight against this damaging EBacc policy."

A date for the debate has not yet been set.