Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to withdraw practical courses in agriculture and horticulture from assessment towards school league tables.

The Government has no such plans. There are 20 qualifications in agriculture, countryside management and environment sustainability for 16-19 year olds that meet the Government’s quality standards for reporting in school and college performance tables. The Department for Education is currently considering qualifications for teaching from September 2015, and we are hopeful that new land-based provision will be approved against our standards for 14-16 year olds.