Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps he has taken to ensure the future provision of academic A-levels in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley; and if he will make a statement.

As a result of the recent merger between St Helens College and Knowsley Community College, brought about through Area Based Review, the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley will have A level provision restored through its delivery at the merged college (SK College Group) Knowsley campus from September 2018. The 2018/19 prospectus has been published, setting out the A levels available. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) understands that the college has received 95 A level applications to date for the 2018/19 academic year.

The ESFA is working closely with Knowsley local authority, ensuring the implementation of ‘Knowsley Better Together’; the wider local plan for improving access to A levels in Knowsley.