Topical Questions 2023-06-12
2023-06-12
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
The decision to make it harder for those on postgraduate courses to bring dependants will once again mean that Britain's universities will be looking to China for international students. At a time of growing tension and concern about Chinese foreign policy, not least on the Secretary of State's own Benches, is she confident that this is going to end well?
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. We discussed this a little earlier. There is a large and growing desire for the education that our top universities provide and there are many countries in the world where the middle class is developing, so there is a lot of opportunity for our universities as long as they keep on delivering their world-class fantastic quality.
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Q2
Partial Answer
I welcome the relationships, sex and health education curriculum review. The Secretary of State herself has said that she shares concerns about inappropriate lessons being taught in schools. Can she reassure my Orpington constituents that the review will strengthen the ability of parents to view teaching materials, so that some teachers are no longer able to push unilaterally their own views on politics and gender to impressionable young people?
As my hon. Friend knows, the Secretary of State has written to all schools to emphasise that schools can and should share RSHE teaching materials with parents. The Department will consider, as part of the review of the statutory guidance, whether any further changes are needed to reinforce that and to ensure that all resources that teachers use to teach RSHE are age-appropriate.
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Q3
Partial Answer
Today's announcement by Ofsted is a welcome recognition of the need for change, but it does not go far enough. Labour is the party of high and rising standards in our schools, which is why we would give parents a comprehensive picture of their children's school in the form of an Ofsted report card, rather than a simplistic one-word judgment. Why is the Secretary of State content to sit back, rather than drive improvement in our schools?
The last time I was at the Dispatch Box, the hon. Member for Reading East (Matt Rodda) asked me to meet the family of Ruth Perry and members of the Caversham community following Ruth's tragic death. I have been honoured to work with Ruth's family and friends over the last few weeks. I take this matter incredibly seriously. Today, we announced that we are significantly expanding wellbeing support, in addition to announcements from Ofsted to improve the accountability system.
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Q4
Partial Answer
I read with great interest that the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South (Bridget Phillipson) recently said in an interview in that “the government could reduce the monthly repayments for every single new graduate without adding a penny to government borrowing or general taxation—Labour will not be increasing government spending on this.” That sounds too good to be true. As we on the Government Benches know, those on the Opposition Benches excel themselves on the subject of fairy-tale economics, so can I ask the Secretary of State
I thank my hon. Friend for her very insightful question. The Labour party's proposals would, unfortunately, mean that graduates would live unhappily ever after. Either Labour would have graduates pay back their loans at a lower income threshold, impacting people just as they are taking their first steps on the career ladder, or it intends to make graduates pay back their loans well into retirement. That would, essentially, create a graduate tax.
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Q5
Partial Answer
Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency reveals that, despite achieving the same level of qualification, the salaries of first-class female graduates were £2,000 lower than those of their male counterparts. What steps is the Minister taking to foster women's workplace progression once they leave university?
The hon. Lady will be pleased to know that male graduates earn more than £130,000 over their lifetime and female graduates £100,000, so graduates are coming out of university with good wages, and we know that more disadvantaged students are going to university than ever before.
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Q6
Partial Answer
A number of smaller schools across my Colne Valley constituency have increasing numbers of SEND students. What can the Department do to cajole Labour-run Kirklees Council to deliver timely education, health and care plans and ensure that it is delivering the financial support for the extra educational assistance that these children need?
The work of teaching assistants is incredibly important to the SEND arena. We have taken education funding to real-term historic highs for mainstream education and we have increased the high-needs block by more than 50%.
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Principals of sixth-form colleges are warning that the Government's plans to scrap many BTECs will harm students.
Principals of sixth-form colleges, such as Yolanda Botham at Long Road College in Cambridge, warn that scrapping BTEC qualifications risks harming students. Will the government listen and protect student choice?
Many BTECs will remain available alongside A-levels, but we are getting rid of those with low outcomes or significant overlap with T-levels. We have introduced flexibilities for T-level transition years.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to protect student choice was not provided.
Under Review
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Q8
Direct Answer
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The hospitality sector seeks more flexibility and evolution of apprenticeship policies to better serve their needs.
My right hon. Friend, the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, has been supportive of apprenticeships. Will he engage with the hospitality sector to bring people into apprenticeships and improve standards?
We have introduced flexibilities in the apprenticeship levy. I visited Greene King, which uses the levy effectively. We will continue to work with the hospitality industry to support its growth.
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Q9
Partial Answer
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A survey found that the mental health of 90% of students has been negatively impacted due to rising costs.
The Government have not adequately addressed student concerns about financial stress. What will be done to assist them?
We increased the Office for Students grant by £50 million, raised maintenance loans and grants, and introduced energy rebates for students in private accommodation.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures to address mental health directly were not detailed.
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Q10
Direct Answer
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Secondary school heads are concerned about teacher retention and have innovative ideas to address it.
With more teachers in classrooms, concerns remain about retention. Will the Secretary of State meet me and local heads to discuss their ideas?
If she cannot visit, I certainly will. We are addressing teacher retention through resources for workload issues, prioritising staff wellbeing and flexible working.
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Q11
Partial Answer
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Despite the introduction of legislation to help reduce school uniform costs, many schools still require excessive branding and logos.
What measures will Ministers take to ensure that all schools apply the new guidance?
The guidance is now statutory. Headteachers ultimately decide, but parents can use formal complaints procedures if they feel schools are not adhering.
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Specific enforcement measures were not detailed.
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Q12
Direct Answer
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Parents are concerned about the availability of special education needs (SEN) places in their local schools.
What is being done to ensure more SEN spaces are made available?
We have set out reforms for mainstream provision and are building many free schools with specialist support. There are 127 established since 2010, with 67 in the pipeline.
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Q13
Direct Answer
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Three-quarters of primary schools may not have mental health support teams by 2024 due to funding concerns.
Will the Minister commit to prioritising and committing new funds for school-based mental health support?
We are rolling out mental health support teams ahead of schedule, covering 35% of pupils now and another 100 teams on the way for next year.
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Q14
Direct Answer
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Parents are concerned about the materials used in relationships and sex education.
If parents see inappropriate teaching materials, will they have a right to withdraw their children from such lessons?
There is no right to withdraw children from relationships education but parents can withdraw their children from sex education in the RHSE curriculum.
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Q15
Partial Answer
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King Fahad Academy in East Acton has been educating children since 1985. The Saudi Government, who fund the school, have announced it will close this September.
Since 1985, girls and boys from nursery age to right up to pre-university have been educated at the King Fahad Academy in East Acton. Imagine the shock of parents, pupils and staff to be told last month that none of them are coming back in September because the Saudi Government, who fund it, are pulling the plug. Could the Secretary of State urgently intervene, at least to provide some basic certainty to a stunned community? Even the road layouts around there were conceived around the school. It could mean 500 kids left in the lurch after summer.
I am happy to meet the hon. Lady to discuss this issue in more detail.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for urgent intervention was not addressed.
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Q16
Partial Answer
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Some students at the University of Lincoln are experiencing delays in getting their final dissertations marked due to union member lecturers boycotting the process.
I have constituents who have been studying at the University of Lincoln for the last three years, but the classification of their degree and their graduation are being prevented because lecturers who are union members are boycotting marking their final dissertations. Can my right hon. Friend advise me and my constituents of what they should do to push through and get the qualifications that they have worked so hard for?
My hon. Friend is right that students should get their papers marked. I have been discussing these issues with Universities UK, which says that they will affect a minority of students, and a lot of universities are ensuring alternative markers. Students have recourse to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator if they feel they are not getting the service that they have paid for with their student loan.
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No specific actions or timelines were provided to help students get their papers marked and receive their degrees.
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Q17
Partial Answer
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A conference at Bootham Quaker School discussed the purpose and future of education, considering its impact beyond personal benefits.
On Saturday, I attended an inspiring conference hosted by Bootham Quaker School, where about 120 year 12 students from across the world had come together to determine the purpose and future of education. Does the Secretary of State agree with them that we need a renewed vision for education, taking into account what education achieves for communities, countries and the planet we share, rather than just its personal benefits?
The hon. Lady raises a number of important points. First, sustainability is an important part of the curriculum. Secondly, we want our young people to be able to succeed. In a global jobs market—a global trading market—they need to have the best education possible. Our schools are rising in the international league tables for maths and reading standards in PISA, PIRLS and TIMMS—the programme for international student assessment, the programme in international reading literacy study and the trends in international mathematics and science study.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific agreement or disagreement was given regarding the need for a renewed vision for education.
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Q18
Partial Answer
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Headteachers in Chandler's Ford are concerned about subsidising the surplus in places from falling school rolls, particularly for universal infant free school meals.
I met a group of headteachers in Chandler's Ford, in my constituency, on Friday, and it is clear that they feel they are currently subsidising the surplus in places from falling school rolls, and particularly in universal infant free school meals. The Minister and I discussed this in my recent Westminster Hall debate, and he said he was “actively looking” at the issue. Since then, the Hampshire school meals provider has put up the price again. Will the Minister give me an update?
I am happy to discuss this further with my hon. Friend. As I said in the Westminster Hall debate, we have been looking at this issue carefully and have increased the price per pupil of the universal infant free school meal, backdated to April. We understand the cost pressures that schools and suppliers of catering to schools are facing because of higher food prices.
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No specific commitments or timelines were given for addressing the issue.
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Q19
Partial Answer
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The Glasgow Science Festival has been promoting research and inspiring young people for its 17th year.
The Glasgow science festival has just completed its 17th year communicating research and inspiring young people, and older people, in venues across Glasgow. Will the Minister congratulate Dr Deborah McNeil for her work in promoting this brilliant festival? It is an example of how young people and academics in science can be brought together.
I am delighted to congratulate the science festival and the individual the hon. Lady mentions. We need more such science festivals across the United Kingdom; I would be very interested to learn more about that science festival and how we can spread such festivals across our country.
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No specific congratulations were given to Dr Deborah McNeil.
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Q20
Partial Answer
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Improving educational outcomes in areas like Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke requires retaining the skills of highly qualified teachers.
Improving educational outcomes in places like Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke relies on retaining the skills of highly qualified teachers. One way we can go about doing that is by changing levelling-up bonus payments in education investment areas, so that money can be given to teachers regardless of how many years of service they have. Will the Minister consider that action?
Having served as Schools Minister at the Department for Education for a period of time, my hon. Friend will be aware that we have levelling-up premium payments for teachers to teach maths, physics and computer science in disadvantaged schools, in order to encourage teachers in those subjects into the schools that need them the most.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about changing bonus payments was not addressed.
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