Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps her Department has taken to ensure young people in Knowsley have access to academic A-level provision within the borough boundaries.

The hon. Member for Garston and Halewood met my Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education, on 25 October 2017. The Department remains committed to working with the local authority (LA) Executive Director (Children), to determine the demand for A level provision above and beyond existing accessible provision, and ensure that the needs of young people in the borough are being met.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough will benefit from some limited A level provision through the imminent merger of Knowsley Community College with St Helens College, where A levels will be taught at the Knowsley campus from September 2018.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency is meeting the leadership of both colleges in December. The Department is also working closely with Knowsley LA’s Executive Director (Children), to ensure the implementation of ‘Knowsley Better Together’; the wider local LA led plan for improving access to A levels in Knowsley.