I am deeply concerned that A-level Archaeology is set to disappear from the syllabuses of schools and colleges up and down the country, as no exam board has come along to deliver it. Archaeology teaches us the disciplines of forensic analysis; how to peel back the layers of evidence, literally; how to contextualise and study the data in physical form—or often, as importantly, its absence in physical form—and to make assumptions based on scientific analysis. Though the loss of this subject may seem somewhat niche, it is important. If nothing is done, the current cohort of students studying archaeology in our schools and colleges will be the last. We have already lost the GCSE in archaeology.
During the debate, which was attend by Sir Tony Robinson - of Time Team fame - I implored the Minister to do everything he could to find an exam board to support the next generation of archaeologists.
You can read the full Hansard of the debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-12-14/debates/16121434000001/A-LevelArchaeology