Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Colleges Week 2022 — [Mrs Sheryll Murray in the Chair]

27 October 2022 · 5 other contributors · 9,840 words

Opened by Peter Aldous Con Waveney

Responding minister: Andrea Jenkyns

Education

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Peter Aldous raised concerns about colleges week 2022 — [mrs sheryll murray in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • MP expressed concern over funding challenges facing colleges, citing energy price increases and wage gaps as major issues.
  • MP urged the Government to provide necessary resources for colleges to support economic growth and address regional inequalities.
  • Minister acknowledged the critical role of further education colleges and highlighted the Government's commitment to parity between academic and vocational qualifications.

Key requests to Government

The MP urged the Government to provide necessary resources for colleges to support their role in driving economic growth and addressing regional inequalities. He asked the Minister to confirm that investment in schools would be a priority under the new Prime Minister's leadership.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Peter Aldous Con Waveney

The MP expressed concern about the funding challenges facing colleges, noting that despite some recent improvements, further education funding still compares unfavourably with both university and school funding. He highlighted issues such as significant energy price increases affecting college budgets and difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff due to wage gaps compared to industry or schools. The MP also pointed out concerns over the speed of government reforms to level 3 qualifications, particularly regarding the withdrawal of funding for existing qualifications before clear replacements are in place.

Other contributors (5)
  • Ben Bradshaw Lab Exeter

    Illustrated the success and potential of colleges with Exeter College as an example, highlighting its transformation over 25 years due to good policies and local leadership. Emphasised high academic results, increased apprentice starts, and T-level provision. Noted challenges such as lack of space, staff recruitment difficulties, especially in construction, digital, and engineering, citing the impact of the cost of living crisis and Brexit.

  • Harriett Baldwin Con West Worcestershire

    Expressed concerns about the Malvern Hills College situation, where Warwickshire College Group has announced plans to close despite a substantial offer from local philanthropists and councils to secure its future. Emphasised that the community wishes to retain the site as a college, with offers of grants totalling £800,000. Criticised the board for retaining lawyers and suing Malvern Hills District Council to lift the covenant on the property.

  • Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood

    The speaker celebrated the work of further education colleges, emphasising their importance in providing opportunities for learners. She highlighted the need for better support and utilisation of these institutions. Helen also discussed funding cuts over 12 years and raised concerns about rising energy prices and uncertainty faced by colleges this year. Labour supported the 'Protect Student Choice' campaign to salvage BTECs and is seeking clarity on future policies regarding level 3 qualifications. Asked for clarity on the Minister's plans for level 2 and 3 BTECs.

  • Marion Fellows Lab West Bromwich West

    OECD data shows that Scotland is the most educated country in the UK with 55.2% of its population aged 25 to 65 having completed further or higher education, partly due to Scottish colleges which offer a system called articulation allowing students to progress through various levels of education and even move directly into university second or third year courses. Ms Fellows highlighted the importance of lifelong learning, vocational education, and widening access for disadvantaged groups, citing her personal experience as an FE lecturer where she helped many individuals who had previously been told they could not achieve academically. She also praised New College Lanarkshire in Motherwell for its diverse range of courses and community engagement.

  • Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham

    Congratulated the hon. Friend for obtaining an important debate, recognised the economic dependence on the offshore sector in his constituency, praised Peter Kennedy and his team at Franklin Sixth Form College in Grimsby, highlighted the importance of apprenticeship courses for young people to enter the offshore and similar sectors.

Government Response

Andrea Jenkyns

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Murray. The Minister congratulates the hon. Member for Waveney on securing this important debate and acknowledges the critical role of further education colleges in providing technical and vocational qualifications. She highlights the Government's commitment to parity between academic and vocational qualifications and their work with emerging industries to future-proof the economy. The Minister touches upon the importance of apprenticeships, college reach across all sections of society, and the need for proper funding. She discusses investments of £3.8 billion more in FE and skills over this Parliament, including an extra £1.6 billion for 16-to-19 education in 2024-25; an extra £500 million for T-levels when fully rolled out; £1.34 billion in adult education and skills through the adult education budget in 2022-23; and £2.5 billion over the course of the Parliament for the national skills fund to support eligible adults to upskill and reskill. She mentions challenges such as rising costs and energy crisis, but assures that the Government will continue to work with colleges to address these issues. The Minister also addresses reforms in the technical education system, recruitment and retention of teachers, ONS reclassification concerns, funding and accountability for colleges, FE capital transformation programme investments, skills bootcamps, T-levels achievements, and expresses her commitment as a champion for further education colleges.

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