AQW 42377/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 12/03/2026
Answered On Date: 25/03/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail (i) any discussions she has had with the Minister of Education in relation to his proposed reforms to GCSEs and A Levels; and (ii) any assessment that has been made on how this will impact (a) higher education; and (b) further education provision.

Answer:

I discussed these matters with the Education Minister at a Cross-Departmental Ministerial Meeting in November 2025, and officials from my Department continue to engage with Department of Education counterparts through established 14–19 governance structures.

In respect of higher education, the potential implications of the proposed reforms on crossborder mobility have been highlighted. The review of A-level grade equivalencies recently implemented in the South means that, currently, northern applicants can now achieve top CAO points with three A-levels and one AS-level, making it easier for students from here to study at institutions in the South. Changes in respect of AS Levels may impact the progress made on reducing barriers to north/south student mobility.

In respect further education, my Department is currently considering the potential impact of the proposed reforms on future further education provision and will continue to engage with the Department of Education as this work progresses.