Topical Questions 2021-06-21
2021-06-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Diana Award is currently awaiting funding and has put in an application to the Department for Education. The question stems from a visit to Gusford Primary School where two pupils are passionate about tackling bullying.
On Friday, I found out about the Diana Award anti-bullying strategy when I visited Gusford Primary School and I had the pleasure of meeting Harrison, a year 5 pupil, and Katie, a year 4 pupil. They are the two anti-bullying ambassadors for Gusford primary. Single-handedly, the two of them passionately seem to be on the way to stamping out bullying in the whole school and have actually required very little assistance from the teachers. The Diana Award, I understand, is currently awaiting funding and has put in an application to the Department for Education. Will my right hon. Friend confirm here today his commitment to supporting all the work they are doing to tackle and prevent bullying?
It sounds as if amazing work is going on at Gusford Primary School. That has been underpinned by the £3.5 million in funding available to charities and organisations such as the Diana Award. A number of organisations are currently bidding. I am afraid that I am not in a position to confirm which have been successful, but I understand that the Diana Award is one of those that has been bidding for the next tranche of funding.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not directly commit to funding the specific anti-bullying programme asked about but acknowledged existing funds and applications process.
Hedges
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Early Years Alliance revealed secret Government documents that exposed years of underfunding in childcare, resulting in increased costs for parents and lower-quality education. There has been a net loss of 2,500 childcare facilities this year.
Last week, the Early Years Alliance revealed secret Government documents that exposed that Ministers have been knowingly underfunding childcare, childminders and nurseries for years now, knowing full well that that would mean increased childcare costs for parents and lower-quality early education. Bearing in mind that in this year alone there has been a net loss of 2,500 childcare facilities in England, will the Minister apologise for covering this up? Will she explain to the House how she plans to rectify the very serious problem of underfunding in early education?
I do wish sometimes that my opposite number would stop scaremongering. We have put unprecedented investment in childcare over the past decade: more than £3.5 billion in each of the past three years. There are always a number of reasons why providers come and go from the register, including mergers and acquisitions. The key thing is whether or not there are sufficient places for children. We monitor the market very closely, and we are continuing to see that there are not a significant number of parents who are unable to secure a childcare place this term or since early years sectors reopened in June.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not address underfunding issues or plans but criticized the questioner's approach and provided general figures.
Dismissive
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The consultation on PQA closed in May.
Could the Secretary of State update the House on progress on changing A-levels to enable students to apply with known grades rather than predicted grades?
I thank my hon. Friend for that question. The consultation closed on 13 May and we are looking at the response very closely. We really want to bring post-qualification admissions forward as rapidly as possible. We would like to do so without legislation and in co-operation with the sector, but if we are not able to have that co-operation, we will drive this forward. All the evidence, from the Sutton Trust and from so many others, is clear that PQA helps children from the most disadvantaged families more than any others. That is why we will make it happen.
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Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The National Fire Chiefs Council, Zurich Municipal and other stakeholders have called for England to be brought in line with Scotland and Wales regarding sprinklers.
Given that the National Fire Chiefs Council, Zurich Municipal and many other stakeholders across the UK have repeatedly called for Ministers to bring England in line with Scotland and Wales, where sprinklers are compulsory, will the Secretary of State explain under what rationale the Department for Education has chosen to pursue a programme of installing sprinklers only in new schools over 11 metres tall?
We always look at the latest evidence and take the very best guidance. We are very proud of our building programme in schools, in new build and refurbishments, but we always look very closely. As the hon. Lady will be aware, there is some debate as to whether deluge systems or mist systems are best, but we are always guided by the best advice and the best evidence in our school building programme.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not directly address the rationale behind the decision but mentioned looking at the latest evidence and guidance.
Hedges
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Catholic sixth-form colleges have not been able to convert.
Our programme of promoting academies and enabling schools and colleges to become academies has been outstandingly successful and very popular. However, there is one section that has not been able to convert: Catholic sixth-form colleges. Will my right hon. Friend enable an amendment to the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill to provide an opportunity for Catholic sixth-form colleges to academise with the legal protections that they need?
I am aware of how important this is. We look at all legislative opportunities to see how this can best be done, and we are committed at the earliest opportunity to making it happen. We want to see Catholic sixth-forms in a position to be able to academise, because we have seen the benefits that that can bring to so many schools. I will happily work with my hon. Friend and others to ensure that it happens at the earliest moment.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide a direct commitment or amendment but expressed willingness to pursue opportunities.
Hedges
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
There have been disruptions for three academic years, and universities want clarity on their plans for September.
Will the Secretary of State ensure that, instead of experiencing disruption to a third academic year, universities are able to determine their own return of students in September this year? The University of York and York St John University have advanced plans in place and they do not want to see further delays, including staggered starts. Can they now also have the ability to allow international students to quarantine at their local university?
We have every expectation that by the autumn term we will be able to move forward beyond step 4, meaning that there will be no further restrictions on the provision of in-person teaching and learning. During the pandemic, many providers have developed a digital offering and, as autonomous institutions, they might choose to retain elements of that approach, as well as undertaking risk assessments, but our expectation is clear that universities should maintain the quality, quantity and accessibility of provision. In terms of international students, we have been one of the world's leaders in our visa concessions and flexibilities. I shall continue to work closely with the Home Office and the Department of Health to ensure that the best interests of students are always maintained, as well as public health.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not provide a direct commitment on September plans or local quarantine options but discussed expectations for pandemic management.
General Principles
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of the pandemic on pupils with dyslexia, who may struggle to catch up without targeted support.
I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. Can the Secretary of State say what particular support is being made available for pupils with dyslexia to help them to catch up following the disruptions caused by the covid-19 pandemic?
The £3 billion education recovery interventions are largely targeted towards those children who need the most help. The catch-up and recovery premiums can be used flexibly by schools to support pupils with special educational needs, including those with dyslexia.
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Develop, an organisation in Bedford providing personalised teaching to learners with special educational needs and disabilities, faces funding cuts from the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
Develop is part of a small not-for-profit organisation in Bedford providing personalised teaching and training to local learners. Many of its 31 students have special educational needs and disabilities and cannot attend a mainstream college, so can the Secretary of State explain why this incredible centre's Education and Skills Funding Agency funding will be stopped in July and how it is to support its devastated students and families?
We have, of course, increased our high needs budget by nearly a quarter over the past two years and put additional funding, through the recovery and catch-up programmes, towards special needs, supporting those children who need to be in special schools and not mainstream schools, but I would be happy to meet the hon. Member and look at the specific case that he has raised.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific reasons for funding cut avoided
Response accuracy
Q9
Direct Answer
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Context
Kash Singh, a former police inspector from Bradford, established OBON—a programme aimed at bringing communities together under the common cause of being proud to be British. OBON Day is on Friday.
Kash Singh came to the United Kingdom aged seven, unable to speak English. He became a popular police inspector in Bradford, and on his retirement he set up OBON—One Britain One Nation—which aims to bring communities, particularly schoolchildren, together under the common cause of being proud of being British and taking pride in British values. OBON Day is on Friday. Will the Secretary of State thank Kash Singh for all his work in this regard, and will he encourage all schools to take part in OBON Day on Friday?
I would very much like to thank Kash Singh for the work he has done on this amazing project, and it is incredibly important that schools take part in it. We have already asked schools to participate, and I am happy to reiterate the endorsement of the project from the Dispatch Box and to encourage them to play their part in it.
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Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
There is concern about the protection of children in care against grooming gangs, a critical issue that needs Government attention.
How confident is the Secretary of State that children and young people in the care of local authorities are being protected from grooming gangs, and what discussions has he had with the Home Secretary about what more needs to be done to protect this group of young people?
I have regular discussions with the Home Secretary and across Government on this issue. It is vital that everything is done to address this. I know that this is something that is felt on both sides of the House. We will continue to put in all the resources and all the effort required to tackle this vital issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific measures avoided
Response accuracy
Q11
Direct Answer
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Context
With the digital age, there is a need to ensure that school and college courses prepare students for the modern economy.
In the digital age, it is more important than ever that school and college courses reflect the skills needed by employers in the future. Will my hon. Friend outline the steps she and the Department are taking to bring forward new technical qualifications that will ensure that students from Aylesbury, especially at the university technical college and the further education college, are well equipped to meet the demands of the modern economy?
My hon. Friend is right: technical skills and education are vital to our modern economy, and never have we seen that more clearly than during the pandemic. The Conservative Government are encouraging more students into STEM education at all stages, from primary to higher education. We are proud to have rolled out multiple programmes to increase support for and uptake of STEM subjects, including through the National Centre for Computing Education. We are also investing £138 million to fund the roll-out of skills bootcamps across the country and free courses for jobs, through which adults can study for qualifications such as a diploma in networking and cyber-security or a certificate in systems infrastructure. I am delighted that, from September, Buckinghamshire College Group will offer our new employer-designed digital T-level.
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Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of the past year on teacher retention rates, urging steps to mitigate this.
Does the Secretary of State share my concern about the impact of the last year on teacher retention? What plans does he have to mitigate this and to tempt more new entrants to the teaching profession? Is he considering more grant funding for those who are planning to enter the profession? Will he take some positive steps?
We continue to support recruitment to the teaching profession with an extensive bursary scheme to incentivise people to take up teaching, especially in areas with the greatest shortage. We remain committed to our £30,000 starting salary for teachers, which we recognise is an incredibly compelling offer for many people. Mr Speaker, you will be pleased to hear that last year a record number of people chose to enter the teaching profession, and we expect similar results this year.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps to increase teacher retention avoided
Response accuracy
Q13
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the transition of students into work or further education following severe disruptions due to the pandemic.
I thank my right hon. Friend for the recently announced multimillion-pound rebuild of Lytham St Annes High School, but looking to the present, what steps is the Department taking to help school leavers this summer, as they transition into work or higher education following severe disruption to their final two academic years?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who campaigned hard to get the funding to deliver the rebuilding of Lytham St Annes High School for his constituents. We will continue to work with all schools throughout the remainder of this academic year to ensure that there is as much support as possible for students, whether through the recovery premium that schools have been receiving or money made available for summer schools, so that schools can put on additional activities. The further education sector has also been supported to support its pupils, so they can get on and get the best opportunities.
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Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
The Association of Colleges accused the government of creating an 'education versus work' divide by requiring universal credit claimants to prioritise looking for work over training.
I am concerned about disadvantaged universal credit claimants who want to train and improve their skills. How do the Government expect them to get financial support if it is linked to prioritising work over training opportunities?
We have been working with the Department for Work and Pensions to extend to 12 weeks the time that those who are claiming universal credit can undertake college courses. Anyone who wants to attend one of the boot camps we are rolling out across the country can complete the programme, with up to 16 weeks in total.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about financial support was not fully addressed.
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
The Department of Health and Social Care is closing asymptomatic testing and lateral flow testing facilities at the University of Hull on 31 July, despite ongoing summer operations for staff, postgraduates, international students, and those unable to return home. Additionally, not all students are double-vaccinated and cases are rising.
The Department of Health and Social Care is closing asymptomatic testing facilities at the University of Hull on 31 July. Will the Minister for Universities urgently intervene and speak to her colleagues in DHSC to keep these testing facilities open?
We have worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care throughout the pandemic, ensuring students can utilise the universal testing offer. I am willing to meet to discuss this further.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to keeping facilities open specifically.
Willing To Meet
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
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Context
Ministers failed to secure over 90% of the funding called for by Kevan Collins for the catch-up fund. Additionally, 100,000 vulnerable students are missing out on the pupil premium due to insufficient funding.
Why did ministers fail to secure adequate funding for the catch-up fund and why is the Chancellor not providing necessary investment in education despite rising cases?
We have announced a £1.4 billion education recovery package, with an extra £1 billion for tutoring and 6 million 15-hour courses for students aged five to 16, plus 2 million courses for those aged 16-19. We are reviewing the time aspect of Sir Kevan's recommendations before reporting into the spending review.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide concrete actions addressing specific funding shortfalls.
Reviewing Recommendations
Response accuracy