Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Eton Star Sixth Form: Oldham

Monday 1 December 2025 · 2 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

  • Jim McMahon asked the Minister for a timetable on the decision regarding the proposed Eton Star sixth-form college in Oldham.
  • The Minister acknowledged the need for clarity on the proposed free schools but cited concerns about value for money as the reason for pausing some free school proposals.
  • Jim McMahon questioned the timing mismatch between apprenticeship vacancies and when children leave school, highlighting that few vacancies are advertised in July and August.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jim McMahon Labour (Co-op) Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
Education
Context

The previous Government announced the free schools for sixth-formers programme over two years ago. The local authority, parents, and other sixth-form providers have been waiting over a year since this Government announced a review of that programme.

Question

What is her planned timetable for making a decision on the proposed Eton Star sixth-form college in Oldham? Can I urge the Government to give clarity on that programme before Christmas?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Josh MacAlister)

In 2017, the Government’s spending watchdog estimated that free schools would create 57,500 surplus places. This Government took the sensible, pragmatic decision to pause a number of proposed free schools due to real concerns about value for money. We recognise the need for clarity and we will provide a substantive update on this project and others in the mainstream pipeline review very soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact timetable was not provided, and no specific date before Christmas was mentioned.

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Q2 Jim McMahon Labour (Co-op) Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
Education
Context

There is a mismatch between the time when most apprenticeships are advertised and when young people leave school. Many vacancies are only available in February, six months after students have left school.

Question

Can I ask the Government to pay some attention to the mismatch between apprenticeship vacancies and when children are leaving school? So few vacancies are advertised in July and August; the highest number of vacancies is in February, six months after young people have left school. Surely there is a mismatch?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Josh MacAlister)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank my hon. Friend for raising that point. As somebody who was a teacher in Oldham, I know many of the institutions he is referring to, and I particularly know about the great work that is done by Oldham sixth-form college and the secondary schools in his constituency. We want to make sure that where we are spending significant sums on capital investment, which the Budget and the spending review allow us to do, it reflects the Government’s priorities around special educational needs and extra school places. We want to get that right, and we will provide an update very soon to my hon. Friend and others.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific issue of apprenticeship vacancy timing was not addressed directly; the answer focused more on general educational priorities and capital investment.

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