Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (FAD) as a pathway (1) into creative higher education, and (2) meeting the skills needs of the creative industries; and what assessment they have made of the impact of not exempting the FAD from level 3 qualification reforms.

The department intends to develop V Levels in the creative sectors for first-teach in 2030/31. We will carefully balance the introduction of new qualifications with removal of funding approval from unreformed qualifications to avoid gaps in provision.

Following the expected completion of our post-16 pathways qualification reforms by September 2030, students will have a clear choice between A Levels, V Levels and T Levels at level 3. The equalities impact assessment published alongside the government response to the Post-16 Level 3 and below pathways consultation sets out our analysis of impacts split by protected characteristics and anticipates positive impacts for students from clearer choices and progression routes.