Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Higher-level Learning Target

Monday 20 October 2025 · 4 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Secretary of State will make a statement on the post-16 education and skills White Paper later, aiming to support higher-level learning.
  • Construction apprenticeship places will increase by around 5,000 each year, thanks to a 140 million investment.
  • The Secretary of State expressed willingness to visit Amber Valley to see how integrating the workplace with classroom learning celebrates both academic and vocational paths.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anneliese Midgley Lab Knowsley
Education
Context

In Knowsley, there is progress but still a gap in young people participating in higher education.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that it meets its target of two thirds of young people participating in higher-level learning. In Knowsley, while we are making progress with work from the council and organisations such as the Brilliant Club, we still fall below average for young people going into higher learning. Barriers remain to continuing education, and to developing skills for good jobs and good lives.

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

Later today I will make a statement on our post-16 education and skills White Paper, which sets out measures to support this learning ambition. For too long, skills have not been taken seriously, and that stops with Labour. Our long-term plan for national renewal will unlock opportunity for our young people, and drive growth for our country with clearer pathways, stronger alignment, and a renewed partnership between Government and business.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to meet the target in Knowsley were not addressed

How: Working On It

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Q2 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Education
Context

The construction skills hub in Staveley has seen success with young people starting construction apprenticeships.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that it meets its target of two thirds of young people participating in higher-level learning. The construction skills hub in Staveley in my constituency is a great example of the value of apprenticeships, and this year 68 young people came straight out of school and started a new construction apprenticeship.

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

My hon. Friend is right, and I know he has championed this cause for many years to ensure there are strong vocational and technical routes, including into areas such as construction. Around 5,000 more construction apprenticeship places will be made available each year, thanks to our £140 million investment, but that investment comes with reform, such as new foundation apprenticeships to equip young people with the skills they need, and construction technical excellence colleges in every region, working together with business, to ensure that we are training the plasterers, the electricians and the bricklayers of the future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps for Chesterfield were not addressed

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Q3 Linsey Farnsworth Lab Amber Valley
Education Employment
Context

The David Nieper academy in Amber Valley has had zero NEETs at age 18 for the past two academic years.

Question

Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating its students and its staff, and will she commit to visiting, to see how by bringing the workplace into the classroom it celebrates both the academic and the vocational?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

That is fantastic to hear, not least given the challenges that we still see with quite high levels across our country of young people who are not in employment, education or training. I and the Work and Pensions Secretary are determined to take action on that, and I would be more than happy to do my best to honour my hon. Friend’s request.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to visit was not provided

How: Working On It

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Q4 Nick Timothy Con West Suffolk
Education Community Security
Context

Universities have spent at least £2.5 million since the attacks of 7 October on additional security for anti-Israel protests and subsequent clean-up operations, yet many disciplinary cases against those disrupting study have been dropped.

Question

On higher-level learning, universities have spent at least £2.5 million since the attacks of 7 October on additional security for anti-Israel protests and the clean-up operations that follow, yet many of the disciplinary cases against those disrupting study have been dropped. Will the Secretary of State confirm how many students have been expelled or disciplined for causing criminal damage, inciting violence and chanting antisemitic abuse?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson (The Secretary of State for Education)

Let me be absolutely clear: there is no place on our university campuses, in our schools or anywhere in our society for antisemitism, and I send that message loud and clear. That is the message that I have extended to university vice-chancellors, who should be in no doubt that we expect to see action on campus on this very serious issue. That is why we are putting more funding into training and support, including in our universities where we expect to see action, because there can be no excuse for Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The number of expulsions or disciplinary actions taken against students causing criminal damage, inciting violence, and chanting antisemitic abuse was not provided.

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