Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact the new Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualifications have had on T-Level student numbers in the engineering and manufacturing sector.

The department is unable to make an assessment about the potential impact that level 3 Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs) are having on students studying T Levels in engineering and manufacturing, as they are still in development and will not be available for teaching until 2025.

AAQs will be required to meet criteria that ensure they support progression to higher education.

Small AAQs will be available for funding in a wide range of subjects, including science, engineering, health and social care, IT, art and design, performing arts, creative digital media, and sport.

The department will evaluate the impact of level 3 AAQs as part of the delivery of the qualifications reforms.