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Written question asked by Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench) on Wednesday, 26 October 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 November 2016. It was answered by Lord Nash (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 November 2016 on behalf of the Department for Education.

GCE A-level

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are taking steps to ensure that A-levels in (1) art history, and (2) archaeology, continue to be offered to new students.

Answer

It is disappointing that AQA has taken the decision to withdraw from offering A levels in History of Art and Archaeology.

We published content for both subjects in January 2016. The option for AQA or another exam board to develop specifications in future will remain open. We are in discussion with the exam boards on this issue.

Neither subject is a pre-requisite for degree level study, and both are taken by a relatively small number of students. In 2015/16, there were 340 entries to A level Archaeology, and 776 entries to A level History of Art[1].

[1] Both figures cover examination results of students aged 16, 17 or 18 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL2697
Session
2016-17
Subjects
Archaeology GCE A-level Art history
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk