Education: Citizenship Studies

Debate between Baroness Royall of Blaisdon and Lord Nash

Monday 30th June 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I agree entirely with the noble Lord. I would hope that in a school with a proper syllabus on this these were not contradictory. Certainly Ofsted should look at this in inspecting spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab)]

My Lords, too many of our young people do not vote, which is understandable when they are not taught about our political system and our system of governance. The Minister mentioned citizenship lessons but the fact of the matter is that they are not compulsory. As the noble Lord, Lord Cormack, said, they should be a compulsory element in all schools including academies and free schools. What plans does the Minister have to ensure that there is a fully qualified citizenship teacher in every school?

[Lord Nash]

I am a little confused about the Labour Party’s attitude on compulsory subjects in the national curriculum. I thought that its study group had proposed that all schools should be free not to teach the national curriculum, but I will not attempt to keep up with this flip-flopping. We do not agree that it should be mandatory. A lot of people want to have subjects made mandatory in the curriculum but there is not room. Schools must teach citizenship at key stages 3 and 4. They must also teach about spiritual, moral, cultural and social responsibility and British values. The curriculum includes all the institutions to which the noble Baroness referred.

Schools: Unqualified Staff

Debate between Baroness Royall of Blaisdon and Lord Nash

Monday 4th November 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab)]

As is the state sector.

[Lord Nash]

It is not, actually; we have just been told that it has fallen well down the international league tables. Many of these independent schools quite voluntarily go into state schools and give lessons. Some of these teachers are unqualified; under Labour that will not be able to continue.

Childcare Ratios

Debate between Baroness Royall of Blaisdon and Lord Nash

Thursday 9th May 2013 Lords Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash)]

My Lords, the Government announced in January, in the More Great Childcare document, the intention to give nurseries more flexibility over staff/child ratios where they employ suitably qualified staff. We have consulted on what those qualifications should be. The consultation closed at the end of March. We are now considering the responses and will make further announcements in due course.

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon]

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that response. The people of this country rightly want politicians to listen to their concerns. I realise that the Government are consulting, but given the scale of public opposition, especially from parents and all those involved in childcare, will the Government take this chance to rule out this dangerous policy, which simply will not work?

[Lord Nash]

As the noble Baroness says, we are considering the consultation. We are motivated entirely by better quality childcare and we believe that our proposals will deliver that.