Are A Levels no longer going to be available to people over 19 years old?

Some interesting news has reached me that an adult has been refused entry by several colleges to study chemistry and biology A Levels because these courses are only available to students under 19 years old. I'm unsure whether this is a national policy or whether it is the policy of individual colleges but I find it incredulous. If over 19 year olds are barred from taking A Levels at state colleges then it will be detrimental to many HE students or those with SEN who often take GCSEs and A Levels at an older age than average, and it makes a complete mockery of the government's committment to lifelong learning.

Does anybody know more about this?

I have been wondering if the government is planning on replacing A Levels with the International Baccalaureate.

We have been wondering at my end of things if the government is planning on rationalising and reducing the number of qualifications in existence, although another HE remarked that it's a bit late in the day for the government to make drastic reforms as it probably has less than a year left in office. Qualifications are a minefield and the choices available are bewildering and confusing so I can understand motives behind reducing the overall number of qualifications available and eliminating overlap of the same subject material in different qualifications. I previously brought up the issue of my son taking an A Level in computing but evidence now points that this could be a qualification on its way out. Investigations have revealed an extremely limited choice of subjects available at local colleges for over 19 year olds with only a few A Levels offered and maths NOT being one of them.

This is all very strange. I suspect that funding is a large part of the reason behind the issue.

Has the new government got any policies on improving the availability of A Levels for mature students?