To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Schools: Teachers
Thursday 26th June 2025

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their definition of (1) a teacher, (2) a school, and (3) a qualified teacher.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The definition of a teacher, school and qualified teacher is outlined in the relevant statistics that the department publishes. The methodology section of ‘School workforce in England’ publication outlines the following definitions in the context of the school workforce census. The full methodology section can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/school-workforce-in-england.

A teacher in school is defined as anyone who is employed by a school as a:

  • Classroom teacher, including teachers on the unqualified, main and upper teacher pay ranges and the leading practitioner pay range.
  • Other leadership teacher. For example, deputy and assistant headteachers and advisory teachers.
  • Headteacher.

A school includes:

  • Local authority-maintained nursery, primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units.
  • Academy schools: free schools, university technical colleges, studio schools, city technology colleges, academy special schools and state-funded alternative provision schools.

Qualified teachers are defined as those holding any of the following:

  • Qualified teacher status.
  • Qualified teacher learning and skills status.
  • Early years teacher status.

The methodology section of ‘Further education workforce’ publication outlines the following definitions in the context of the further education workforce census. The full methodology section can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/methodology/further-education-workforce.

A teacher in further education is defined as member of staff with teaching responsibilities. Main Roles which would determine whether a staff member is a “Teacher”:

  • Advanced Practitioner
  • Instructor
  • Lecturer
  • Practitioner
  • Teacher
  • Trainer
  • Tutor.

Schools are not defined within the scope of the further education workforce.

Qualified teachers are defined as those holding any of the following:

  • Qualified teacher status.
  • Qualified teacher learning and skills status.
  • Early years teacher status.

Division Vote (Lords)
11 Jun 2025 - Holocaust Memorial Bill - View Vote Context
Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (XB) voted No and in line with the House
One of 1 Crossbench No votes vs 18 Crossbench Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 83 Noes - 129
Written Question
Personal Care Services: Apprentices
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many apprenticeship starts in hairdressing there were, by region and level, for each of the English regions in each of the years from 2015 to the present.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The attached file contains apprenticeship starts for the 2015/16 to 2024/25 academic years, broken down by region and level, for hairdressing apprentices. These were last published in March 2025. They include full year figures from 2015/16 to 2023/24, and year to date figures for 2024/25 (August 2024 to January 2025).

The most recent years’ data are available in the published ‘Apprenticeships’ statistics, which have been included in the attached file, and can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships/2024-25.


Division Vote (Lords)
2 Jun 2025 - Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (XB) voted Aye and in line with the House
One of 57 Crossbench Aye votes vs 4 Crossbench No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 242 Noes - 116
Division Vote (Lords)
19 May 2025 - Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (XB) voted Aye and in line with the House
One of 67 Crossbench Aye votes vs 1 Crossbench No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 289 Noes - 118
Division Vote (Lords)
12 May 2025 - Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (XB) voted Aye and in line with the House
One of 39 Crossbench Aye votes vs 3 Crossbench No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 272 Noes - 125
Division Vote (Lords)
12 May 2025 - Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] - View Vote Context
Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (XB) voted Aye and in line with the House
One of 34 Crossbench Aye votes vs 18 Crossbench No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 289 Noes - 168
Written Question
Apprentices
Wednesday 7th May 2025

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the provisions proposed in the Employment Rights Bill on the proportion of apprenticeships offered by employers to (1) existing employees, (2) new hires, and (3) 16–24 year olds; and what evidence regarding employers' decisions to award apprenticeship contracts they have used in this assessment.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

In October, Government published 24 Impact Assessments representing a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis shows that the Bill is expected to benefit younger workers, typically disproportionately represented in low paid, low quality, insecure jobs.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 01 May 2025
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

"My Lords, I declare an interest as deputy chair of governors at King’s College London Maths School, which is a high-achieving 16 to 19 academy. We are very grateful to this Government and previous Governments for their support, and we are aware that the school’s existence, and that of other …..."
Baroness Wolf of Dulwich - View Speech

View all Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (XB - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Written Question
Apprentices
Wednesday 30th April 2025

Asked by: Baroness Wolf of Dulwich (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact on apprenticeship numbers of the measures included in the Employment Rights Bill, including the proposed extension of protections against unfair dismissal to day one of employment.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

In October, Government published 24 Impact Assessments representing a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis shows that the Bill is expected to benefit younger workers, typically disproportionately represented in low paid, low quality, insecure jobs.

The Employment Rights Bill will make basic protection against unfair dismissal a day one right for all employees. The new statutory probation period will provide lighter-touch standards for employers to dismiss an employee who is not suitable. These standards will also apply to apprenticeships and training contracts, requiring adequate evidence to justify dismissal on conduct or capability.