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Education and Skills Reform
09 September 2026
Lead MP
Lucy Powell
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
EducationEmploymentChildren & Families
Other Contributors: 28
At a Glance
Lucy Powell raised concerns about education and skills reform in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Lucy Powell, as Education Secretary, made a statement to the House of Commons updating on the Government’s education and skills reforms. She highlighted the need for change in the current education system, which, while successful in some areas, is failing many children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Powell emphasised the importance of improving literacy and numeracy, addressing the special educational needs and disabilities crisis, and reducing persistent absenteeism. She announced reforms aimed at creating a more inclusive education system, including changes to maths and English resits, an investment in SEND reforms, and a focus on technical education pathways. The goal is to equip young people with both knowledge and practical skills, to better prepare them for the modern world and to ensure that education leads to success regardless of a person's needs, ambitions, or postcode.
Laura Trott
Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Question
The MP welcomed the Secretary of State and discussed the success of English pupils in PISA assessments, attributing this to Labour-led reforms. She criticised the Government for blaming schools for problems that the Government failed to solve elsewhere and for returning to a policy that has failed before. She warned against channeling children from poorer backgrounds into vocational education at 14.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the contributions of previous Labour governments and cited support from experts for the current reforms. She emphasised the importance of multiple pathways and not a two-tier system, and highlighted the success of a new construction centre at Harper Green school in providing practical education.
Helen Hayes
Lab
Dulwich and West Norwood
Question
The MP welcomed the Government’s focus on boosting technical and vocational education and asked the Secretary of State to make representations to the Chancellor about colleges being allowed to claim back VAT in the same way that schools can.
Minister reply
The Minister expressed respect for the MP's work on the Education Committee and acknowledged the issues with the transition from school to college and attendance at further education colleges. She noted that the Alan Milburn review is focusing on these issues and funding, and she will update the House once the report is published.
Twickenham
Question
The MP welcomed the Secretary of State and questioned the Government's approach to creating technical pathways without ensuring parity of esteem and funding. She asked how technical qualifications will be made as rigorous as academic qualifications, about the child's ability to move between technical and academic pathways, and about new funding attached to the reforms.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the importance of parity of esteem between technical and academic subjects and emphasised her vision for high-quality technical and vocational qualifications available at 16, alongside core subjects. She stated that students would look at a suite of qualifications and would not have to choose entirely academic or technical subjects.
Wolverhampton North East
Question
Asks the Secretary of State to champion properly funded careers advice and guidance, including place-based employer partnerships, to help young people in Wolverhampton North East understand the opportunities available to them.
Minister reply
Responds by highlighting the need for better alignment between schools and the workplace. Mentions a summit at No. 10 to design real work experiences and improve careers advice.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Question
Raises concerns about the one-size-fits-all nature of the Government's SEND reforms and urges the Secretary of State to review the decision to axe a new SEND school in Buckinghamshire.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the sensitivity of the issue and assures that reforms are necessary and are being carefully considered. Emphasises the importance of consultation with parents and stakeholders.
Mark Sewards
Lab
Rotherham
Question
Inquires about the reforms to correct the lack of parity between academic and technical routes in further education and skills.
Minister reply
Confirms the introduction of new, high-quality vocational and technical qualifications and changes to Progress 8 measures to encourage schools to offer a broad curriculum.
Caroline Voaden
Lab
Sunderland Central
Question
Asks where the workforce will come from to teach technical subjects in every school, given the shortage of staff in colleges.
Minister reply
Commits to addressing the workforce issue, including training and preparation for teachers, and emphasises the opportunities for teachers to adapt their skills to technical education.
Dave Robertson
Lab
Hartlepool
Question
Welcomes investment in South Staffordshire college and seeks confirmation that reforms will make it easier for young people to pursue hands-on jobs.
Minister reply
Agrees that the reforms aim to improve opportunities and outcomes for young people, particularly in technical and practical skills.
Ashley Fox
Con
Beaconsfield
Question
Questions the competence of Somerset council in assessing children for their education, health and care plans and seeks assurance that local authorities will deliver what is expected.
Minister reply
Acknowledges discrepancies and assurances that a rigorous approach is being taken to ensure local authorities deliver expected services.
North East Somerset
Question
Welcomes the new approach and agrees that a broader curriculum will benefit young people, challenging the former Secretary of State's negative portrayal of teachers and their work.
Minister reply
Pays tribute to teachers and confirms the value of technical education and addressing the gap for white working-class boys.
Suella Fernandes
Con
Fareham
Question
Welcomes aspects of the Secretary of State's statement and highlights the challenges facing white working-class boys, suggesting targeted measures are needed.
Minister reply
Agrees with the need for targeted measures and mentions the white working class commission's findings on the purpose of school for white working-class boys.
Oliver Ryan
Lab
Bermondsey and Old Southwark
Question
Welcomed the Secretary of State and acknowledged her powerful advocacy for students and teachers, highlighting the need to address weaknesses in PISA results and the importance of improving reading and maths skills for all children.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the MP's kind words and agreed that while there is much to celebrate in the PISA results, there is also a need to address the poor outcomes for some children, particularly in reading and maths. Emphasised the importance of addressing the one-size-fits-all approach in the education system and pledged to take necessary steps to improve the situation.
Adam Dance
Con
Somerton and Frome
Question
Welcomed the Secretary of State's stance on ending post-16 resits and asked for clarification on the concept of early identification, specifically in the context of neurodiversity and access to assistive technology.
Minister reply
Clarified that every child has the right to resit exams but reiterated the concern about the negative impact of repeated resits. Announced the development of national inclusion standards and highlighted the importance of devolution beyond mayors, mentioning the support from local authorities.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central
Question
Welcomed the Secretary of State to her new role and emphasised the importance of technical and technological education, highlighting the widening attainment gap between the north-east and London.
Minister reply
Agreed with the MP's concerns and mentioned the Mission North East programme and the RISE programme to address the regional disparities in educational standards, expressing willingness to meet with the MP to discuss further.
Ayoub Khan
Lab
Birmingham, Selly Oak
Question
Raised the issue of families in temporary accommodation being unable to afford transport costs to take their children to school.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the issue and highlighted the benefits of free bus passes for young people in Greater Manchester, promising more measures to support students' transportation needs.
Adam Thompson
Con
Gorton
Question
Thanked the Secretary of State for her commitment to technical education and asked about the role of degree apprenticeships in her vision for the education system.
Minister reply
Expressed a desire to expand degree apprenticeships across higher education and to offer more level 4 and 5 apprenticeships to provide clear pathways for young people.
Vikki Slade
Con
Newton Abbot
Question
Complimented the staff at specialist schools for their efforts to help children who have been failed by mainstream education and asked about the influence of parents and students in choosing qualifications.
Minister reply
Praised the staff at Summerwood school and emphasised the importance of inclusion in the mainstream education system, promising to bring forward work on curriculum and inclusion reforms.
Lauren Sullivan
Con
Gravesham
Question
Welcomed the Secretary of State to her role and emphasised the importance of practical skills in education.
Minister reply
Expressed her love for science and agreed on the importance of practical experience, promising to visit Gravesham to discuss the issue further.
Ian Sollom
Lab
Bolton West
Question
Asked about the transition to V-levels, raising concerns about the previous delays in transitioning from BTECs to T-levels and their impact on young people.
Minister reply
Guaranteed no gaps in the transition to V-levels, promising to bring forward work on the specification of qualifications and teacher training to ensure confidence among teachers.
Sam Rushworth
Lab
Workington
Question
Welcomed the reforms and called for work placements to support the roll-out of the measures.
Minister reply
Acknowledged the importance of work placements and promised to work with the MP to ensure adequate placements are available as measures are rolled out.
Shockat Adam
Con
Tottenham
Question
The MP welcomes the Secretary of State's statement and highlights the issue faced by apprenticeship providers, specifically mentioning his constituent Amanda who is struggling with employment taxes and VAT. He asks what steps the Minister is taking to address this issue.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the importance of entrepreneurs like Amanda and the need to address barriers to entry for apprenticeships in hair salons and other technical and vocational fields.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
The MP welcomes the Secretary of State's statement and asks what actions will be taken to provide technical and vocational places in his constituency. He mentions a former education college site that could be readymade for creating such places.
Minister reply
The Minister will meet with the MP to discuss the future of the former education college site and will look at the school estate to address the diminishing pupil rolls in early years and expanding requirements for further education, apprenticeships, and technical education.
Question
The MP asks for a commitment from the Secretary of State to review the issue of parents being unfairly prosecuted for their children’s absence due to unmet SEND needs before the education for all Bill.
Minister reply
The Minister commits to tackling issues around absenteeism, exclusion, off-rolling, and home schooling in the reforms being made.
Question
The MP welcomes her old school's journey of improvement and asks what more the Department can do to develop the skills of the UK’s next generation of creatives, highlighting the 47% decline in students studying creative arts since 2010.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the decline and commits to ensuring that creative subjects and sectors can flourish as much as they could.
Question
The MP highlights the excellent work being undertaken by providers such as Crewe Engineering and Design UTC and Cheshire College South and West and asks what steps are being taken to build on successful examples of colleges and UTCs with proven industry partnerships.
Minister reply
The Minister mentions the importance of more technical and vocational pathways and qualifications available to all children, not just those who can get into one of the UTCs.
Question
The MP welcomes the Education Secretary's statement and asks for an update on the progress of Mission Coastal, a pilot programme to improve educational outcomes in coastal communities.
Minister reply
The Minister discusses the importance of Mission Coastal and commits to pressing on with this kind of support to see real improvements in opportunity and outcomes for young people in coastal communities.
Question
The MP welcomes the Secretary of State's statement and asks for any upcoming changes, particularly through the SEND reform, to take account of what disabled children are able to do and to meet the charity Teach Me Too.
Minister reply
The Minister commits to meeting Teach Me Too and discussing how to support all young people, regardless of their disability, to develop their passions and core skills in a way that gives them a sense of achievement and progress.
Shadow Comment
Laura Trott
Shadow Comment
Laura Trott, responding to Powell's statement, welcomed the new Secretary of State but criticised the Government's decision to change course despite the current system's success. She pointed out that the UK's top 10 ranking in the PISA results is a testament to the effectiveness of the current education system. Trott argued that high academic standards do not hinder children but rather lift them up, and that the Government is blaming schools for the NEETs crisis, which she believes is a result of their own economic policies.
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