Education Settings: Safe Learning Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)
1. What steps his Department is taking to ensure that pupils can
learn safely in education settings. (905326) The Minister for
School Standards (Mr Robin Walker) Mr Speaker, I am answering this
question on behalf of the Secretary of State, who, as you know, is
isolating having tested positive for covid over the weekend. May I
offer my condolences to the family and friends on the day of
the...Request free trial
Education Settings: Safe Learning
(Harrow East) (Con)
1. What steps his Department is taking to ensure that pupils can
learn safely in education settings. (905326)
The Minister for School Standards ( )
Mr Speaker, I am answering this question on behalf of the
Secretary of State, who, as you know, is isolating having tested
positive for covid over the weekend.
May I offer my condolences to the family and friends on the day
of the funeral of the late Member for Birmingham, Erdington?
Our top priority remains to protect face-to-face education. To
reduce transmission of covid-19, regular testing continues across
education and childcare, with over 109.5 million tests completed.
A further £8 million will support the in-school vaccination
programme. To improve ventilation, we have delivered over 353,000
carbon dioxide monitors and purchased up to 9,000 air cleaning
devices.
I express my sincere condolences to the Mother of the House and
the entire family on the sad loss of the Member for Birmingham,
Erdington.
I am sure that my hon. Friend will join me in thanking and
congratulating the headteachers and staff at all our
schools—those in Harrow in particular—for keeping schools open as
often as possible so that children can learn, as they should, in
the classroom. Will he, however, join me in expressing the view
that forcing young children to wear a face covering for seven
hours a day is unfair, particularly for those who are hard of
hearing?
Mr Walker
I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to the immense
contribution of teachers, leaders and all who work in our
schools. We have consistently seen 99.9% of education settings
open to support face-to-face education. The Secretary of State
always said that, while masks in classrooms were brought in for a
period as we tried to study the impact of omicron, they should
not be in place for a day longer than necessary. We no longer
recommend them, and no child should be denied the opportunity to
study for refusing to wear a mask.
(Hornsey and Wood Green)
(Lab)
Safety includes warmth. What will the Minister say to schools
such as the one that contacted me this morning to say that, due
to its £30,000 energy bill, it will not be able to manage its
budget this year? It is very worried about what it can spend on
fruit, books, salaries and all the other things that a small
primary school needs. What urgent action will he take?
Mr Walker
We recognise some of the pressures facing schools and, indeed,
all parts of the economy as a result of rising energy costs. That
is part of the reason why we have provided a £4 billion increase
for schools in the next financial year, which is allowing them to
deliver on all the pressures that they are currently facing.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Education Committee, .
(Harlow) (Con)
The Centre for Social Justice report published yesterday showed
that more than 100,000 “ghost children” are still not returning
to school for the most part, almost 800 schools are missing
entirely a class-worth of pupils, and more than 13,000 children
in year 11—a critical exam year—are severely absent from school.
Will the Department get the proper data to find out where those
children are and what is happening to them? Will it do as the CSJ
has recommended and use the forecast underspend from the national
tutoring programme to appoint 2,000 attendance officers to work
with families to get those children back into school and learning
again?
Mr Walker
I share my right hon. Friend’s passion for ensuring that children
are in school. I have discussed with the Children’s Commissioner
the designation of “ghost children”, which we both feel is
somewhat unhelpful. These are flesh and blood children who
deserve to be in school and have the chance to benefit from
face-to-face education. I assure him that addressing attendance
and ensuring that they all have the opportunity to be safely in
school is a top priority.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
I, too, want children to be taught in safe spaces. That brings me
yet again to the plight of Russell Scott Primary School in
Denton, where, as the Minister knows, a botched £2.7 million
refurbishment by Carillion has left the school with wrecked
footings; a leaking roof; defective fire safety measures;
inadequate drainage that floods the school with raw sewage; and
playing fields that still resemble the Somme. It needs £5 million
for that to be put right, or a new build. wrote to me last week and
basically said, “Tough—there’s no money.” That is not acceptable,
is it? This is not levelling up. Let us get the purse strings
opened and rebuild Russell Scott.
Mr Walker
The hon. Gentleman is clearly a champion for that school—he has
made the case for it many times before. I would be surprised if
that was the content of my noble Friend’s letter, because a
programme is due to open shortly, as he will know. Of course, we
cannot pre-empt the programme, but I know that he has made a
strong case for his school.
(Basingstoke) (Con)
Ofsted’s inquiry last year into the Everyone’s Invited campaign,
which exposed sexual harassment and other safeguarding concerns
in schools, focused on the importance of mandatory sex and
relationship education, as did Ministers. As a result of the
actions of this Government, such education is mandatory for all
school-age children. Will the Minister look to Ofsted to do
further work on how schools are implementing relationship and sex
education, because I am sure Members across the House are
concerned about that?
Mr Walker
I know from discussions with Her Majesty’s chief inspector that
this is a priority for Ofsted, and we continue to work together
on it. We are also supporting teachers to build their confidence
in teaching this newly required subject, which my right hon.
Friend has campaigned for strenuously.
(Cumbernauld, Kilsyth
and Kirkintilloch East) (SNP)
With much more school work being carried out online and with
digital literacy among pupils rising extremely quickly, what
protections are the Government putting in place to ensure that
online platforms are a safe learning environment for young
people?
Mr Walker
This is an important area of work within both the computing
curriculum and the advice on keeping children safe in education.
We certainly want to ensure that children are safe whether they
are learning in the classroom or online.
Low-quality University Courses
(Devizes) (Con)
2. What steps his Department is taking to tackle the provision of
low-quality university courses. (905327)
The Minister for Higher and Further Education ()
I believe that every student has the right to a high-quality
education. The Government are committed to tackling low-quality
courses and ensuring that students and the taxpayer see a return
on their investment. We have worked with the Office for Students
to tackle low-quality higher education courses and it will now,
for the first time, impose stringent minimum standards for
drop-out rates and progression to graduate jobs.
Wiltshire has no university, as my right hon. Friend knows, but
we have something better in the form of Wiltshire College, which
provides a fantastic range of courses for young people and
adults, including at the great agricultural campus at Lackham.
Will she join me in congratulating Wiltshire College on its
retention of students and the progression that they achieve? It
does that by working with employers to design courses that work
for the local economy. Does she encourage universities to learn
from the college sector how it does that?
I agree completely with my hon. Friend’s assessment of Wiltshire
College. Like so many further education colleges, it works
closely with local businesses to ensure that residents get the
skills that local employers need. That is why the Government are
investing in further education. We are providing investment to
transform the Lackham campus into an agritech hub, with £1.2
million of capital funding for Wiltshire College, as well as £4
million for the delivery of T-levels to ensure that learners
continue to have high-class learning facilities.
(Warwick and Leamington)
(Lab)
Parents and families are rightly proud of a child or family
member who secures a place at our world-class universities, yet
last week many will have seen the Minister belittle their courses
and hard work. Her new proposal to fine universities if they do
not meet universal thresholds risks punishing universities with
more disadvantaged, black and ethnic minority or mature students,
who are more likely to take different routes through to higher
education. Why is she putting barriers in the way of universities
seeking to widen access to higher education?
It is a shame that the hon. Member did not pay attention to the
announcement we made. Is he actually saying that we should expect
the dumbing down of some courses, because those who are
disadvantaged do not deserve high quality? Is that really what
the Opposition stand for? Let us not forget that many
universities are excelling at supporting disadvantaged students
to complete courses and go on to get graduate jobs—look at
Sheffield Hallam, Nottingham Trent and Kingston. I believe that
every student deserves a high-quality education, and so should
the Opposition.
(Stroud) (Con)
It is not just the quality of courses that the Department and my
right hon. Friend are working on; it is also the experience of
students. Will she give an update on what steps she is taking to
ensure that universities stop using non-disclosure agreements to
silence the victims of sexual abuse?
Last week, I launched a pledge, working with the likes of
Universities UK and Can’t Buy My Silence. It is very important
that universities stop using non-disclosure agreements in respect
of sexual assault, sexual abuse and harassment. They are morally
inept and have no place on our campuses. I encourage every
vice-chancellor to sign the pledge.
Student and Graduate Finance: Cost of Living
(Motherwell and Wishaw)
(SNP)
3. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a)
student and (b) graduate finance in the context of the cost of
living. (905328)
(North Ayrshire and Arran)
(SNP)
21. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a)
student and (b) graduate finance in the context of the cost of
living. (905347)
The Minister for Higher and Further Education ()
We have frozen maximum tuition fees for the fifth year in
succession, saving a typical full-time student finishing a course
in the 2022-23 academic year over £3,000 in fee loans for the
three-year degree. Maximum grants and loans have increased by
3.1% for the current academic year, with a further 2.3% increase
announced for the next academic year.
As a result of their extremely high tuition fees—the highest in
the world—English students leave university with three or four
times the amount of debt that Scots do. Freezing the loan
repayment threshold—along with the national insurance hike and
the high, rising costs of food—significantly affects young
graduates. Why are the Government failing to support students and
graduates during this cost of living crisis?
As I said, this will be the fifth year in succession that maximum
fees have been frozen, saving a full-time student finishing a
course over £3,000. With median non-graduate salaries at £25,000,
it is right that we work to make the system sustainable and fair
for the taxpayer, including those who do not choose to attend
university, especially when only a quarter of those currently
starting a course will actually fully repay their loan.
Despite what the Minister said, the fact is that the Government
have broken yet another promise that the student loan repayment
threshold would be frozen. That means that, when student loan
repayments are taken into consideration, together with the
national insurance tax hike, graduates earning just over £27,000
a year will pay a marginal tax rate of an eye-watering 42.25%.
Will the Minister explain to the House why she thinks that is
fair?
It is important that we strike a fair deal for students,
graduates and the taxpayer. Only a quarter of those who take out
a loan now will fully repay it, and as the hon. Member knows, the
terms of these loans are very different from commercial loans.
For instance, if someone loses their job or their salary reduces,
their payments will change immediately.
(Bexleyheath and Crayford)
(Con)
Universities have a duty to provide students with value for money
and they have undoubtedly been receiving a poorer education
through remote learning. Does my right hon. Friend agree that,
now that plan B measures have ended, every university should
welcome back students to lecture halls, or provide refunds?
I do agree. Online learning can be a great way to supplement and
enhance learning, but let me be clear: it should not be used as a
cost-cutting exercise and it should not be used to avoid
utilising face-to-face provision. As the Secretary of State has
outlined, we expect universities to be up-front and transparent
about what students can expect, and I am personally calling
vice-chancellors where we are concerned that this is not
happening.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Surely the ministerial team realise that student finance is in a
terrible mess, with many students struggling to pay money back
and many students refused a mortgage because of their student
debt. This is a serious situation. The Government have got to get
a handle on it and do something about what is going on,
particularly in relation to the weak and enfeebled Office for
Students.
Contrary to the hon. Member’s assertion, mortgages do not take
into account student loans and we should put that on record. We
are committed to a sustainable higher education funding model
that supports high-quality provision, meets our skills gaps and
maintains the world-class reputation of our higher education
institutions, which is exactly why we will respond to the Augar
review in full in due course.
Supporting Young People into High-quality Jobs
(Keighley) (Con)
4. What steps his Department is taking to support young people
into high quality jobs. (905329)
The Minister for Higher and Further Education ()
We are increasing spending on skills by £3.8 billion over this
Parliament—that includes growing apprenticeship funding to £2.7
billion by 2024-25—and our skills revolution will ensure that
young people have the skills that they need to access
high-quality jobs through skills bootcamps, T-levels,
traineeships and apprenticeships.
The Government’s apprenticeship scheme has done a fantastic job
in giving young people from across Keighley and Ilkley a route to
high-skilled work. I saw that at first hand when I visited
Byworth Boilers and met Suzanne Rutherford, Jago Harry and Curtis
Daly, all of whom made that progression through the
apprenticeship scheme. What plans does my right hon. Friend’s
Department have to ensure that success stories such as the
Byworth Boilers apprenticeship scheme are repeated all across the
country?
As so many companies, such as Byworth Boilers, are recognising
the benefits of growing their own, there have been 130,000
apprenticeship starts in the first quarter of this academic year,
up 43% on the same period last year and 3.5% higher than before
the pandemic. Apprenticeships can be transformative, and I am
sure that Suzanne Rutherford, Jago Harry and Curtis Daly will
find that for themselves.
(Chesterfield) (Lab)
Apprenticeships are the best way to support young people into
high-quality jobs, but Government data shows the total number of
apprenticeships fell by almost a quarter from 2001 to 2019, even
before the pandemic. The levy has been described by the Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development as having failed by every
measure and that it shuts out small businesses and young people.
Is the Minister really satisfied with this failure? Can she
explain why no reforms to apprenticeships are proposed in the
Skills and Post-16 Education Bill?
Our high-quality apprenticeship do not just satisfy us; they
satisfy the thousands of people undertaking them. There have been
130,000 apprenticeship starts in the first quarter of this
academic year, which is up by 43% on the same period last
year.
Mr (South West Hertfordshire)
(Con)
I am really proud of the many outstanding schools in my
constituency, but it is important to remember that a degree is
not the only route to a successful career. Does the Minister
agree that apprenticeships are just as vital as university
degrees, and will she arrange for the right Minister to meet me
ahead of Apprenticeship Week, starting 7 February, to discuss
what more can be done to promote apprenticeships?
Both I and the Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon.
Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (), who is the Skills
Minister, will be delighted to meet our hon. Friend. I absolutely
agree with him on the importance of apprenticeships, and that is
why we have just launched our new skills campaign, Get the
Jump.
(Cambridge) (Lab)
Does the Minister realise that many of the routes into quality
jobs are in those very universities that she has been disparaging
through her tax on so-called low-value courses? Does she agree
that we need a much better metric than salary outcomes? Just
because someone is not very well paid does not mean that they are
no value.
It is a shame the Opposition did not read our announcement the
other week. In fact, we have not based it on salaries; we have
based it on graduate outcomes, so there is a range of jobs that
people can progress into.
Freedom of Speech: University Campuses
(Buckingham) (Con)
5. What steps his Department is taking to protect freedom of
speech on university campuses. (905330)
(Bolton North East) (Con)
15. What steps his Department is taking to protect freedom of
speech on university campuses. (905341)
The Minister for Higher and Further Education ()
Freedom of speech is a fundamental principle of higher education
and this Government will not allow the continued self-censorship
of individuals facing negative repercussions for lawfully
expressed views, which is why our Higher Education (Freedom of
Speech) Bill will strengthen existing freedom of speech
duties.
(Buckingham) (Con)
The University of Buckingham in my constituency has twice topped
the charts for the university with the least restrictions on free
speech, and under the outstanding leadership of its
vice-chancellor, Professor James Tooley, proposals have been
drawn up calling for new laws to ensure that academics can sue an
institution or use the complaints scheme if it fails to protect
them from targeted campaigns of harassment related to their
academic freedom. Will my right hon. Friend the Minister work
with the University of Buckingham to make that new protection a
reality?
I welcome the University of Buckingham continuing to champion
free speech. Our Bill contains exactly those sorts of measure to
further strengthen protection for individuals who are being
harassed for expressing their lawful views, and I am sure my hon.
Friend will support it when it returns to this House.
(Bolton North East) (Con)
Will the Minister agree to visit my constituency to see the
efforts of some of our schools, including Eden Boys School, which
is a feeder school into the University of Bolton, to make sure we
get the balance right between freedom of speech and respect for
religious values?
Of course I will be delighted to visit Bolton North East.
Maintaining free speech in our universities and political
impartiality in our schools while also respecting religious
values is imperative, as tomorrow’s generation shape their
views.
Lifelong Learning and Skills Development
(Wolverhampton North East)
(Con)
6. What steps his Department is taking to promote lifelong
learning and skills development. (905331)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
One absolute priority is to ensure that everyone can obtain the
skills that they need at whatever time in life is right for them.
That is why last week we launched our Skills for Life campaign,
which will promote skills offers among adults, including our
level 3 offer of apprenticeships and skills bootcamps.
It was an enormous pleasure to welcome the employment Minister,
my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (), to Wolverhampton last week,
when we met jobseekers of many ages who were taking part in a
“car maintenance for electric vehicles” course delivered by City
of Wolverhampton College as part of the Department for Work and
Pensions’ sector-based work academy programme or SWAP scheme. How
can the Minister help providers like that college offer more
courses of that kind, which are so valuable in helping people
into work?
I commend the work that City of Wolverhampton College is doing on
electric vehicle maintenance. When we see excellent providers
working with employers, we also see the best outcomes for
students, which is why we are investing an additional £3.8
billion in further education and skills over the current
Parliament.
(Barnsley Central) (Lab)
The truly outstanding Northern College in Barnsley is the only
adult residential college in the north of England. Can the
Minister assure us that it will continue to receive its
residential uplift funding in future years?
I should be delighted to look into that issue for the hon.
Gentleman.
Technical Qualifications: Strengthening their Value
(Clwyd South) (Con)
7. What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the value of
technical qualifications. (905332)
(Westminster North) (Lab)
14. What estimate he has made of the number of students studying
for (a) BTECs and (b) T-levels in the 2021-22 academic year.
(905340)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
We are reforming technical education to support progression and
meet employer needs. Our initial figures show that nearly 5,500
new students started T-levels in September last year, more than
four times the number who started in 2020. We do not routinely
publish take-up data on individual qualifications such as Pearson
BTECs, but we will publish in June the number of students who
were studying for applied general qualifications at the end of
2021.
Will the Minister join me in congratulating my constituent Adele
Hughes, who is working as an apprentice with Raytheon
Technologies, on being awarded a bronze medal at the recent
WorldSkills UK Competition, and does he agree that Adele’s
remarkable achievement demonstrates the value of technical
qualifications and apprenticeships?
I am delighted to extend the Department’s congratulations to
Adele. What we are seeing through our apprenticeships programme
at the moment is the study and achievement of world-class skills
in England. That is why I hope my hon. Friend, and all other hon.
Members, will join me next week in celebrating National
Apprenticeships Week.
Ms Buck
More than a quarter of a million students are studying BTECs, but
the Government are rushing ahead with a set of changes about
which parents and schools and colleges are very concerned,
especially as BTECs are taken up disproportionately by the most
disadvantaged families in the most disadvantaged communities. One
of the issues that have been raised with me is the limited number
of opportunities and qualifications that will be available under
T-levels, in comparison with BTECs. Can the Minister explain how
a levelling-up agenda is being advanced by a reduction in the
range of opportunities available to such students?
It was a central finding of the Sainsbury review, led by a Labour
peer, that the vocational qualifications system should be
simplified. What we are doing is creating world-class
gold-standard qualifications that will give students meaningful
work placements that will enable them to acquire qualifications
designed by employers to give them the skills that the economy
needs.
(North West Durham)
(Con)
Apprenticeships and technical qualifications are extremely
important to my constituents. Following the success of my jobs
fair last year, I am organising an apprenticeships fair on 11
February this year. Will the Minister agree to open the fair, or
to come along at some point during the day and support those
young people in my constituency who are looking for an
alternative route into work?
I will see my hon. Friend there.
Covid-19: Transmission in Schools
(Sefton Central) (Lab)
9. What steps he is taking to help prevent covid-19 transmission
in schools. (905334)
The Minister for School Standards ( )
As I mentioned to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East
(), the Government continue to support a number of
proportionate measures to reduce the spread of covid-19, testing
regularly across settings, delivering 353,000 carbon dioxide
monitors and up to 9,000 air cleaning units to ensure adequate
ventilation, and committing a further £8 million to support the
in-school vaccination programme. All that helps to protect
face-to-face education.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies advised the
Government to improve ventilation in schools in May 2020. It
warned the Government to prepare for winter in July 2020. More
than 10 million days of in-person teaching were lost last term.
More than 400,000 children were out of school with covid last
week. A quarter of schools faced teacher absences of 15% or more.
Air cleaning devices are more than 18 months late, and are being
offered to fewer than one in 30 classrooms. Why did Ministers
ignore the advice about the importance of ventilation in schools
for so long?
Mr Walker
The Government have consistently guided that ventilation is an
important part of the measures against covid. We have had a
world-leading programme of rolling out CO2 monitors so that we
can identify the classrooms that need extra support in this
respect. Roughly 3% of classrooms came back as needing the extra
support and the Secretary of State confirmed last week that every
school that meets the criteria and that has applied for that will
get it, paid for by the Department for Education. This is a
successful response to ensure that schools have the support that
they need.
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
Vaccination is key to protecting our children’s learning in the
classroom, yet 46% of 12 to 15-year-olds have still not had their
first dose. One in eight children were off school earlier this
month, causing more avoidable disruption to their education.
Ministers missed their own target to offer every child a vaccine
by October half term, so can the Minister tell the House what his
vaccination target is now, and when he expects to meet it?
Mr Walker
As the hon. Gentleman will recognise, vaccines have never been
compulsory for children. We want children to have vaccines, but
they are optional and something that requires consent. We are
continuing to support the vaccine programme, and the Secretary of
State announced last week that we have accepted £8 million from
NHS England to accelerate that in the schools pillar. The
community pillar continues to be available to children in this
age group.
Future Funding
(Edinburgh West) (LD)
10. What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on future funding for education. (905335)
The Minister for Higher and Further Education ()
At the spending review, the Government set out spending plans for
the Department for Education worth more than £86 billion for
2024-25. This is an £18.4 billion cash increase over the
Parliament, showing that this Government are serious about
skills, schools and families across the country.
I associate myself with the remarks made by the Minister for
School Standards, the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr Walker) about
the late Member for Birmingham, Erdington.
We now know that £2.7 billion was spent on personal protective
equipment that cannot be used, and that £4.3 billion of the money
that was stolen during covid through the furlough scheme and
other schemes is being written off by Her Majesty’s Revenue and
Customs. Does the Minister share my concern about the difference
that that cash could have made in meeting the target of more than
£15 billion that the Government’s own tsar reckoned was needed to
catch up on the days that our children have lost in school? Will
she call for a review of this?
This Government are investing £4 billion extra on schools next
year and £5 billion for recovery. This Government prioritise the
skills of the future and the catch-up of children in schools.
(South Holland and The Deepings)
(Con)
Will the Minister, mindful of what she has just said, investigate
how much local authorities are spending on so-called anti-racist
education, which is based on deceit, spreads dismay and causes
division? She will know that this is happening in Brighton and
elsewhere. Will she therefore meet Don’t Divide Us—parents and
teachers who are highlighting these matters—with a view to
issuing guidance and if necessary taking legislative steps to
prevent this kind of indoctrination?
I know that the Minister for School Standards, my hon. Friend the
Member for Worcester (Mr Walker), will be only too happy to meet
my right hon. Friend. It is important that I remind the House
that schools are subject to political impartiality, and guidance
on this will be updated shortly.
(Dulwich and West Norwood)
(Lab)
Taxpayer-subsidised childcare is increasingly being taken over by
large for-profit companies quartered overseas, according to new
research by University College London and the Nuffield
Foundation. These companies have growing debts and charge high
fees to parents while having among the lowest levels of staff
qualifications and pay. They are reinvesting little in childcare
provision. Does the Minister believe that repaying corporate debt
represents value for money for taxpayers while families across
the country struggle to access childcare that they can
afford?
We are investing additional funding for the entitlements worth
£160 million in 2022-23. I know that the Minister for Children
and Families, the Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon.
Friend the Member for Colchester (), will be only too happy to
meet the hon. Member to discuss this in detail.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
Full membership of Horizon Europe continues to be treated as a
negotiating pawn by this Government, but it is a very important
source of higher education funding. When the Government talk of
funding safety nets, they fail to recognise the importance of the
rich collaborations that result from Horizon. When will this
Government stop faffing about and make a concrete decision on the
UK’s full participation in Horizon Europe?
We recognise that the ongoing delays by the EU have led to
uncertainty for researchers, businesses and innovators. We have
made it very clear that, in the event the UK is unable to
associate with Horizon Europe, the funding that has been put
aside will go to the UK Government’s research and development
programmes, including those that would form partnerships
internationally.
Forced Marriage and Child Marriage: Information in Schools
(Mid Derbyshire) (Con)
11. What steps he is taking to provide information in schools for
at-risk children on forced marriage and child marriage.
(905336)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
The “Keeping children safe in education” statutory guidance
provides a strong safeguarding framework for schools. It sets out
the role that all school staff have to play in safeguarding
children, including information for staff on what forced marriage
actually is, as well as signposting to further help from the
Government’s forced marriage unit.
Mrs Latham
My private Member’s Bill, the Marriage and Civil Partnership
(Minimum Age) Bill, has its Third Reading on 25 February. We are
approaching a crucial time for young people at risk of child
marriage. Many child marriages happen when children are taken
abroad, generally in the summer holidays and often to someone
they have never met. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we
can raise awareness of this issue in schools so that children
know they can speak out if their parents or other relatives
intend to take them abroad to be married in the school holidays
and so that teachers know how to report children they consider to
be at risk?
“Keeping children safe in education” is clear that all school and
college staff should offer early help to children at risk of
forced marriage or who are missing from education. It also
signposts to detailed information developed by the forced
marriage unit that outlines how schools and colleges should
handle any concerns relating to forced marriage. My hon. Friend
has campaigned long and hard on this issue, and of course I would
be very happy to meet her.
The Reading Framework
(Bognor Regis and Littlehampton)
(Con)
12. If he will make an assessment of the effect of his
Department’s July 2021 policy paper, “The Reading Framework”, on
the quality of the teaching of reading in primary schools.
(905337)
The Minister for School Standards ( )
I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend for his immense work on
“The Reading Framework”. The resulting framework is a vital and
evidence-based tool to enable schools to teach reading
effectively. It shows that phonics is just one part of becoming a
fluent reader. Teachers should also focus on speaking and reading
stories to foster a love of reading. English hubs tell us that
the framework has been well received, and they are delivering a
series of well-attended webinars to support schools to implement
its recommendations.
I am sure my hon. Friend will have seen the recent report by two
education academics challenging the Government’s focus on
phonics, despite all the evidence of its success in teaching
children to read. Does he agree on the importance of continuing
to make the case for phonics and the importance of the
Government’s clear focus on the curriculum, and on how it is
taught, in helping us to complete our mission to transform the
life chances of every child in this country?
Mr Walker
To coin a phrase, I agree with Nick. The evidence for phonics is
very secure, and robust studies led by the Education Endowment
Foundation show that phonics is extremely effective in teaching
students to decode words. Schools do not teach phonics in
isolation, and it is just one element of becoming a more fluent
reader. Teachers must also focus on other elements of developing
a passion for reading. My right hon. Friend is right that the
evidence is very clear and that we should continue to follow
it.
Children with SEND: Access to Specialist Support
(Lewisham, Deptford)
(Lab)
13. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of access
to specialist support for children with special educational needs
and disabilities. (905339)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
We are conducting a review of the special educational needs and
disability system. We intend to publish proposals for
improvements to the system through a Green Paper for full public
consultation in the first three months of this year.
The National Autistic Society ran a survey of parents and carers
last summer, and it found that a quarter of parents waited more
than three years to receive support for their child. Urgent
reforms are needed for the 160,000 autistic pupils in schools in
England to address the issues that have only been exacerbated by
the pandemic. Can the Minister confirm that the upcoming SEND
review will include robust proposals to tackle the crisis that
disabled children and their families are facing?
I recognise some of the challenges the hon. Lady faces, and I
give her that commitment. We prioritise children and young people
with SEND and their families in our £4.9 billion education
recovery plan, and those with the most complex needs continue to
receive high-needs funding, which increases to £9.1 billion in
the next financial year. We have allocated £42 million this
financial year to fund projects that support children and young
people with SEND, including £600,000 to the Autism Education
Trust.
(Totnes) (Con)
As lockdown has been scaled down, I have been visiting primary
and secondary schools to talk about mental health. What steps
have been taken to improve mental health access facilities,
including counsellors in all schools?
Backed by £9.5 million, we are offering about a third of schools
and colleges in England a grant this year to train a senior
mental health lead in their setting. Our £15 million wellbeing
for education recovery and return programmes are in addition to
the £79 million boost to children and young people’s mental
health announced in March 2021 for mental health support teams in
schools and colleges. My hon. Friend’s point is well made.
(Batley and Spen) (Lab)
Last week, I met a fantastic local ADHD—attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder—support group, who detailed to me the many
delays that children are facing in receiving diagnoses and then
education, health and care plans, support and treatment. What
steps are the Government taking to support pupils with ADHD and
suspected ADHD so that they can learn effectively and have a
fulfilling educational experience?
The SEND review is all about ensuring that pupils get the right
support, in the right place, at the right time and ultimately
have better outcomes, and I would be very happy to meet the hon.
Lady to discuss the issue further.
(West Suffolk) (Con)
The Minister will be aware that four out of five dyslexic
children leave school with their dyslexia unidentified, so will
he ensure that, consistent with the answer just given by the
Minister for School Standards, the upcoming schools White Paper
includes action on the universal screening and teacher training
that our dyslexic pupils need and deserve?
My right hon. Friend is a strong advocate on these issues. The
SEND review and the schools White Paper will, naturally, have to
go hand in glove. The School Standards Minister and I would be
happy to meet my right hon. Friend to discuss this further.
School Staff Absences
(Salford and Eccles)
(Lab)
16. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of Government
support to help tackle staff absences in schools. (905342)
The Minister for School Standards ( )
The Department has extended the covid workforce fund to at least
the February half-term, so that schools with high absence and
financial pressures can continue to access these additional
funds. Other measures include asking former teachers to come
forward if they are available to temporarily fill absences in
schools during the spring term.
On 20 January, more than 415,000 pupils were off school and 15%
of teachers were absent, but only 9,000 air purifiers have been
promised, for approximately 300,000 classrooms. The Minister
lauds the Government response, yet Germany has promised to
subsidise 80% of the cost of air cleaning equipment in all
schools to ensure that education is not disrupted. Why is he
failing to ensure that our pupils have similar levels of
protection?
Mr Walker
Very simply, because we are taking an evidence-based approach. We
have listened to schools and we sent them the carbon dioxide
monitors so that they can monitor where classrooms need the extra
support. About 3% of classrooms needed that extra support and
they are the ones where the devices are being provided entirely
funded by the Department.
Apprenticeships: Early Years Workforce
Dame (South Northamptonshire)
(Con)
17. What plans he has to develop apprenticeship routes for the
early years workforce. (905343)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
My Department has engaged with early years employers to help them
design three high-quality apprenticeships—early years educator;
practitioner and lead practitioner. Since 2018-19, there have
been more than 26,000 starts on early years apprenticeships.
Students can also study a T-level, a new gold-standard technical
qualification in education and childcare, which provides a route
into either work or further study.
Dame
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his commitment to making sure
that every baby gets the best start to life. Does he agree that
by creating more of a mixed-skill workforce we will be able to
provide the continuity of care that every family wants when they
have a new baby?
I pay tribute to my right hon. Friend’s considerable expertise
and work in this area, and I agree with her on this, which is why
we are investing £153 million in training early years staff to
support learning and development, and £300 million to transform
Start4Life and help family services. That £300 million is going
to include funding for trials for an innovative workforce, and I
look forward to talking to her about that.
School Buildings: West Dorset
(West Dorset) (Con)
18. If he will take steps to ensure a high standard for school
buildings in West Dorset. (905344)
The Minister for School Standards ( )
Ensuring that schools are well maintained and support effective
education is a Government priority. We have allocated £11.3
billion since 2015 to improve school buildings, and Dorset
Council received £2.9 million this financial year in school
condition allocations. We are delivering rebuilding projects in
West Dorset, and our school rebuilding programme will transform
500 schools over the next decade.
Twenty-five years ago, I attended the Gryphon School in Sherborne
and was schooled in temporary classrooms. I returned to the
school only a few months ago, to find the same temporary
classrooms, in a terrible state, being used for students today. I
am making limited progress with my hon. Friend’s Department, so
might he offer further support so that we can get the situation
sorted out?
Mr Walker
My hon. Friend is right to speak up for his old school. I am
concerned to hear of the issues there. I understand that he met
my noble Friend the Minister for the School System and senior
officials. We have been engaging with the Sherborne Area Schools’
Trust on this matter and it has received £585,000 this financial
year to improve its school buildings, but I would of course be
happy to meet my hon. Friend again.
Early Years Healthy Development Review Report
(Northampton South) (Con)
19. What steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of
the Government’s Early Years Healthy Development Review Report,
published in March 2021.(905345)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
The Government are investing £300,000 million to transform “start
for life” and family help services in half the council areas
across England. That money will fund a network of family hubs,
parent-infant mental health support, breastfeeding services and
parenting programmes, and will allow local areas to publish their
“start for life” offer.
I thank the Minister for that support, but Camrose early years
centre in Northampton South faces an emergency cut that will end
its 8 am to 6 pm nursery service by 1 April this year. Will he
meet me to discuss alternative solutions?
Like other maintained nursery schools, Camrose supports some of
our most disadvantaged children. We have confirmed the
continuation of its supplementary funding throughout the spending
review period and will increase the supplementary hourly funding
rate by 3.5%. I would of course be happy to meet my hon.
Friend.
Topical Questions
(Luton South) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(905352)
The Minister for Higher and Further Education ()
As was explained to the House earlier, the Secretary of State is
currently isolating, but on behalf of him, myself and the
Department, I thank the staff and young people and their families
across education and childcare for their perseverance and
dedication. Face coverings are no longer recommended in schools,
colleges or universities. Regular testing, vaccinations and
enhanced ventilation continue to help to reduce transmission and
thereby protect face-to-face education, which is our No. 1
priority.
The Government will spend another £8 million to support the
crucial in-school vaccination programme. After the delivery of
more than 353,000 carbon dioxide monitors, we are following the
evidence and delivering up to 9,000 air-cleaning devices to
fulfil all eligible applications where there is less natural
ventilation. Because this Government have got the big calls
right, 99% of children are back in school and learning face to
face.
The most deprived schools have seen the largest cuts over the
past decade, with a 14% real-terms fall in per-pupil spending
between 2009-10 and 2019-20, compared with a drop of only 9% for
the least deprived schools. That is not levelling up. Is the
Minister content that her Government are funnelling money away
from the schools and communities that need it the most?
As the hon. Member knows, this Government are determined to level
up, which is exactly why we have introduced a real-terms 5%
increase in school funding and have the highest ever level of
pupil premium.
(Weston-super-Mare) (Con)
T3. The Secretary of State is sadly unable to be with us today,
but will one of his Ministers commit him to meet me to discuss
the universal accreditation scheme proposed in my recently
published “Poverty Trapped” paper? It would mean that
universities and colleges could give credit for knowledge and
skills gained not just in formal education but in work or
informal settings, to make it easier, cheaper and faster to
switch careers and to level up opportunities so that everyone has
a better chance to succeed.(905354)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his report. I very much share
his sentiments about the importance of recognising prior
learning. Currently, further education providers can use their
own discretion when they assess learners’ experience, but we are
examining how we can encourage the greater use of knowledge in
respect of prior learning. I shall pass on my hon. Friend’s
invitation to the Secretary of State.
(Houghton and Sunderland
South) (Lab)
Today, I send my love to the family of , who will be deeply missed by
us all. Through you, Mr Speaker, I also send to the Secretary of
State my best wishes for a swift recovery.
According to the most recent figures, the number of children who
are out of school because of covid has risen by 34%. In the light
of that, do Ministers not regret all the time and energy they
have wasted on defending the Prime Minister rather than
prioritising our children’s learning?
The Minister for School Standards ( )
The hon. Lady may wish to play party politics, but we are focused
on making sure that children can safely learn in schools.
If only that were true. It is a year this week since the Prime
Minister appointed Sir
“to oversee a comprehensive programme of catch-up”,
only for Sir Kevan later to resign in protest because, in his
words, the Government’s plans risked
“failing hundreds of thousands of pupils.”
We can all see covid’s impact on children’s learning and
wellbeing. Labour’s “Children’s Recovery Plan” meets the scale of
the challenge we face, so when will the Minister finally put
children first and match Labour’s ambition for their future?
Mr Walker
I am delighted that this Government are investing £5 billion in
education recovery, and that we have a Prime Minister who two
years ago delivered on a key manifesto promise to take this
country out of theusb EU.
(Winchester) (Con)
T4. The main issue in schools across Hampshire at the moment is
SEND provision. There is a major increase in need as more
students obtain their education, health and care plans, but a
significant shortfall in personnel, even though the funding is in
place. Will the Minister meet me and Steve Jones of Perins
School, which is in my constituency—the dreaded Zoom is
absolutely fine—so that we can talk about recruitment not only of
teachers, but of student-facing support staff?(905355)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
Let me take this opportunity to thank all those who work in
mainstream and specialist SEND settings for everything that they
do. Schools have the freedom to recruit support staff to match
their circumstances, and last year they recruited 6,000 more. Of
course, I will be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the
issue further.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
Times Higher Education has reported that several UK universities
are providing Afghan Chevening scholars with considerable
financial assistance, from food vouchers to laptops. Although
that is to be commended, it is shocking that the financial
contribution of the UK is not covering what these students need.
What discussions has the Minister had with colleagues in the
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to increase the
financial contribution and to properly support these Afghan
students?
I welcome the contribution that universities are also making to
Afghan refugees. I will meet the hon. Member to detail exactly
what the Government have done to support those studying here.
(North East Bedfordshire)
(Con)
T6. Will the Minister join me in thanking the headteacher and
staff of Ivel Valley School in my constituency? They are in
discussions regarding a much-needed refurbishment. Will the
Minister advise me on what the Government’s plan is for upgrading
the estate of schools that deal with children who have severe
learning difficulties?(905357)
My hon. Friend and I recently visited an excellent alternative
provision setting—the Academy of Central Bedfordshire—and he will
know that we are investing an extra £2.6 billion between 2022 and
2025 to deliver an additional 30,000 places and to improve
existing provision for children with SEND. Of course, I echo his
thanks.
(Kingston upon Hull East)
(Lab)
T2. Schools in east Hull have gone above and beyond to ensure
that kids keep learning during the pandemic, and I thank each and
every school leader, teacher and support staff member for that,
but they have been badly let down by this Government. Last term,
10,600 school days were lost as a result of this Government’s
failure. When will the Minister adopt the ambitious,
comprehensive schools recovery plan put forward by the shadow
Secretary of State, which will do what needs to be
done?(905353)
I thank the hon. Gentleman, but we have a strong plan for
recovery in schools and a strong plan for attendance, which is
vital. There has been unavoidable absence as a result of covid,
but we must crack down on avoidable absence, which is a reason
for one of my visits to the north-east last week.
(Stoke-on-Trent North)
(Con)
We in Stoke-on-Trent are proud to be the home of Staffordshire
University, but sadly it seems that cancel culture has arrived on
our doorstep after the wokerati made formal complaints about
criminology professor James Treadwell for tweeting that
transgender women should not be allowed in women’s prisons,
citing research that found that half of women in prison have
experienced emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Does my right
hon. Friend share my despair over this tiny extreme minority, who
wish to silence anyone whose opinion they disagree with, and will
she join me in lending support to Professor Treadwell?
We are a Government who are committed to ensuring free speech on
our campuses, which is exactly why we are honouring our manifesto
commitment and bringing free speech legislation to the House. I
point out that the University of Sussex is already being
investigated by the Office for Students. Other universities
should take note.
(Lewisham, Deptford)
(Lab)
T5. Research published by the Social Market Foundation has shown
that students from working-class backgrounds accepted into
university are more likely than their peers to hold a BTEC
qualification. After failing my GCSEs as a working-class
16-year-old, it was a BTEC in performing arts that got me back
into education and ultimately into university. The Minister has
already been asked this question by my hon. Friend the Member for
Westminster North (Ms Buck), but does he agree that the decision
to hastily remove BTEC funding makes a mockery of the
Government’s claims to be levelling up in education?(905356)
The hon. Lady will have heard my right hon. Friend the Secretary
of State extend the timescale for T-levels on Second Reading of
the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill. I am sure that she would
have benefited from being able to do a T-level when she was at
school. It would have given her nine weeks of work placement, and
she would have done a qualification designed with employers that
would have led to a job in the economy.
(New Forest East) (Con)
Given that section 406(1)(b) of the Education Act 1996 already
outlaws
“the promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any
subject in the school”,
will the Government take appropriate action without further delay
against Brighton and Hove City Council, which is planning to
indoctrinate seven-year-olds with critical race theory?
Mr Walker
My hon. Friend the Minister for Equalities has been clear that
critical race theory should never be taught as that—it is a
contentious political viewpoint. We are working on making sure
that we update our guidance on political impartiality in school,
to make that absolutely clear.
(City of Chester)
(Lab)
T7. Upton-by-Chester High School in my constituency is rated good
with an outstanding sixth form, but it keeps getting overlooked
for replacement of its 1960s prefab buildings, which are falling
apart. When will the Government announce the new guidelines, and
will they look kindly on Upton High’s application?(905359)
Mr Walker
I know that the hon. Gentleman recently met my noble Friend the
Minister for the School System to discuss the case for that
school. Cheshire West and Chester Council received £4.6 million
in school condition allocations this financial year. Our school
rebuilding programme will deliver 500 projects over the next
decade, transforming education for thousands of pupils. The hon.
Gentleman has made his case once again.
(Mansfield) (Con)
I welcome the Government’s commitment to lifelong learning and
level 3 qualifications, but my hon. Friend the Skills Minister
will know that many residents across the country will need
significant help with levels 1 and 2 in order to access that
offer. Will he meet representatives of West Notts College and me
to discuss how we might be able to offer that support to people
in Mansfield?
I would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend. We are reforming
level 2 qualifications. The Chancellor has announced our plans
for Multiply, a new project to help people with numeracy of all
ages.
(Halifax) (Lab)
T8. Primary and secondary schools alike are telling me that the
biggest challenge they face is covid-related staff absence.
Anywhere between 15% and 20% of school staff are missing. Could
the Minister confirm how many volunteers have signed up to the
teacher volunteer drive? What are we doing to keep teachers in
schools so that we can keep them safe?(905360)
Mr Walker
The Government’s covid guidance is about keeping both staff and
pupils safe. On the hon. Lady’s point about volunteers, we
published figures at the beginning of January that show that, at
that point, responses from about a quarter of supply agencies
showed that 585 teachers had come forward in answer to that call
to arms. We expect the full number to be significantly
higher.
(High Peak) (Con)
According to the latest Ofsted inspection ratings, only 55% of
Derbyshire secondary schools are rated good or better, compared
with a national benchmark of 80%. If levelling up is to mean
anything, it must be about fixing the glaring educational
inequality. Will the Minister agree to meet me and fellow
Derbyshire MPs to discuss how we can improve education standards
and opportunity for all in Derbyshire?
Mr Walker
I will certainly be happy to do that.
(Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
(Lab)
The chatty mums network of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe recently
met me to raise concerns about the cost of living and lack of
affordable childcare. What assessment have Ministers made of the
impact of cuts to universal credit and the new Tory tax on
working mums from April?
There is a substantial offer in place to support parents with
childcare costs. In 2021, 328,700 children had a
Government-funded early education entitlement place for 30 hours,
worth up to £6,000.
(East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con)
Before Christmas, the Secretary of State made a statement about
the tragic deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson. To
that grisly list has now been added Amina-Faye Johnson. He
announced a review by the serious case review national panel.
When will that review be published, and can the Minister assure
us that it will be published in full and action will be
taken?
The child safeguarding practice review panel will deliver a
national independent review of Arthur and Star’s tragic deaths,
to identify what we must learn, and it will report in May.
(South Shields) (Lab)
Last week, the journalist and presenter Ashley John-Baptiste
shared his personal story in the BBC documentary “Split Up In
Care—Life Without Siblings”. His story is not unusual, nor is it
a past feature of our care system. Thousands of children removed
from their families, alone and scared, are denied relationships
with their siblings, despite all the evidence showing that this
relationship and bond is one of the most significant and
enduring. Why do this Government stubbornly refuse to make
changes to the Children Act 1989 and give sibling contact for
children in care?
The hon. Lady is right to raise this issue. We have the
independent review into children’s social care led by Josh
MacAlister, and I would be happy to meet her to discuss this
important issue further.
(Runnymede and Weybridge)
(Con)
I recently met my school leaders and heard how, in a recent
inspection by Ofsted, no account had been taken of staff absence
due to covid. Can my hon. Friend confirm that Ofsted should take
into account covid impact when inspecting and set that out in
writing?
I can say to my hon. Friend that having discussed this matter
with Her Majesty’s chief inspector, I know that she does take
such impacts into account. Ofsted is offering deferrals to
schools facing particularly high levels of staff absence, but I
would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the case to
which he refers.
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