Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to (1) devise, and (2) introduce, a qualification in agriculture at (a) GCSE, and (b) A-Level.

The government has introduced a number of recent changes to GCSEs and A levels in England that will affect schools in the coming years. We know that extensive changes need time to settle in to schools, and that school leaders will want stability to bring in the new qualifications. Therefore, at the present time, there are no plans to introduce any further GCSEs or A levels beyond those to which the government has already committed.

There are vocational qualifications currently available in this subject, such as City & Guilds Level 2 Technical Certificate in Agriculture and IMI Level 3 Extended Diploma in Land-based Engineering Technology (VRQ). As part of our reforms to technical education, we are establishing a common framework of 15 technical education routes that encompass all employment-based and college-based training. The Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care route will be rolled out in September 2022.