Tuesday 24 June, 10:00,
Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
The Education Committee will question Skills Minister, Baroness
, in the final evidence session of its
Further Education and
Skills inquiry.
Appearing alongside the Director General for Skills at DfE, Julia
Kinniburgh, is likely to be asked about the
adequacy of capital and revenue expenditure announced for the
sector in the Spending Review, as the population of
16-18-year-olds is set to rise.
Related to funding, the cross-party Committee is likely to ask
about FE teachers' pay, and problems the sector faces with staff
recruitment and retention.
The Committee may also explore the reported high drop out rates
among students taking T Levels – 29% – as well as problems with
how well recognised the qualifications are among students and
employers. MPs may ask how these problems will be responded to,
and about the future of BTECs and other level-3 qualifications
which T Levels were originally envisaged to replace.
The Minister is also likely to be questioned on the Government's
Skills Strategy and the establishment of Skills England, and how
the executive agency will be able to act independently to promote
apprenticeships and work with business.
The role of regional mayors and combined local authorities in
shaping local skills training could also be put to the
Minister.
And the Committee will want to hear how DfE plans to improve the
experiences of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, those
with special educational needs, disabilities or mental health
conditions, and those who have been in care.
Witnesses from
10:00
- The Rt Hon of Malvern, Minister for Skills,
Department for Education
- Julia Kinniburgh, Director General for Skills, Department for
Education
