Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the non-availability of History of Art AS and A Levels on disadvantaged young people with an interest in art who wish to pursue that course of study at university.

We are disappointed that AQA has taken the decision to withdraw from offering History of Art A and AS level. Students may choose to study alternative art history qualifications which are accepted by universities and count in the Department’s performance tables.

The option for AQA or another exam board to develop an A or AS level specification in future will remain open. We are in discussion with other exam boards on this issue.

History of Art A level is not a pre-requisite for degree level study and it is taken by a relatively small number of students. In 2016, there were 776 entries to History of Art A level of which 57[1] were from state funded schools and colleges.

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