Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

School Curriculum: Workplace Skills

Monday 4 November 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial review of the curriculum will include consultations with employers to address future workplace needs.
  • The current government seeks evolution rather than revolution in the curriculum, focusing on evidence from stakeholders.
  • The reformed growth and skills levy aims to create flexible pathways into skilled jobs in growing industries.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
Education Employment Energy
Context

The MP noted the current shortage of technical skilled workers in various sectors, particularly clean energy. There are only 3,000 registered heat pump installers needed to meet a target of 600,000 installations annually requiring 27,000 installers.

Question

There is a shortage of technical skilled workers across our economy. It is a chronic problem, not least in sectors such as clean energy. For example, there are only 3,000 registered heat pump installers, but to deliver the last Government's target of 600,000 installations a year we would need 27,000 of them. That is repeated across the economy. Does my hon. Friend agree that schools have a hugely important role in encouraging young people into technical roles? What are the Government doing to support young people into technical, skilled jobs?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

Our curriculum review will include speaking to employers as part of the consultation about the essential knowledge and skills that will support and enable students to adapt and thrive in the world and workplace of the future, including ensuring we have specialist knowledge in schools to support young people into technical roles.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed with concrete actions or commitments for supporting young people into technical jobs.

How: Looking To Employers, Consultation

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Q2 Bill Esterson Lab Sefton Central
Education
Context

The MP highlighted the improvement of the English education system under the previous government, evidenced by PISA results showing significant academic gains.

Question

Everyone knows that a knowledge-rich curriculum is the reason why the English education system improved dramatically under the last Government. The embedding of academic rigour produced phenomenal results in PISA —the programme for international student assessment. With that in mind, will the Minister confirm that she has no intention of diluting the curriculum or any focus on academic rigour?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

The hon. Gentleman ignores the many challenges that young people face in our school system. We are looking for evolution, not revolution, of our curriculum and will consider areas to focus on based on evidence from stakeholders including employers.

Not addressed: The specific ask about maintaining academic rigour was largely ignored.

How: Ignores Challenges, Evolution

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Q3 Patrick Spencer Con Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
Education Employment Business & Trade
Context

The MP discussed the achievements of the previous government in driving up apprenticeships, particularly mentioning work done by Robert Halfon. The MP asked about future growth expectations for full apprenticeships.

Question

I think we will have to agree to disagree with the Minister about the record of the last Government on driving up apprenticeships, and in particular the work done by our colleague Robert Halfon. Looking ahead, by how much does the Minister expect the number of full apprenticeships to grow over the course of this Parliament? Will she publish the Department's assessment of the move to the growth and skills levy and what that does to the number of people starting apprenticeships?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

Our reformed growth and skills levy will deliver greater flexibility for learners and employers and align with our industrial strategy. It aims to create routes into good skilled jobs in growing industries, such as construction, digital and green skills, with a focus on high-quality entry pathways for young people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about growth expectations was not addressed with concrete figures or timelines.

How: Greater Flexibility, Industrial Strategy

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