AQW 42219/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 10/03/2026
Answered On Date: 19/03/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether he will conduct further consultation on extending A Levels over two years.

Answer:

Under my new Policy Framework for General Qualifications, CCEA A levels will continue to be delivered over two years. The new three-unit modular A level structure will allow pupils to be entered for one unit at the end of Year 13, with two units being taken in Year 14. Alternatively, all three units may be taken at the end of Year 14.

The consultation on the future of CCEA GCSEs, AS levels and A levels ran from September 2025 until November 2025 and received over 3500 responses as well as almost 4500 from the young persons’ version. In addition, my Department held several post-consultation events in January 2026 to seek further feedback from school leaders young people on the proposals before any decisions were made.

Considering the extensive consultation process already conducted by my Department, there are no plans for further consultation on A levels.