Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what effect the review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 will have on performing arts courses.

The department is reviewing post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below, to ensure that every qualification approved for public funding has a distinct purpose, is high quality and supports progression to positive outcomes.

Our second stage consultation of the review proposed a number of groups of qualifications for funding alongside A levels and T Levels in the future. These include qualifications, such as performing arts, that have a strong practical focus and support progression to specialist higher education courses not accessible through A levels. We recognise concerns about the potential removal of well-established qualifications, which is why we have consulted extensively.

The consultation closed on 31 January 2021 and we will publish a full response later this year.