Schools: Arts Subjects

Debate between Lord Geddes and Lord Nash

Tuesday 20th January 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I entirely agree with the noble Baroness on the importance of arts subjects, but we are starting from a very low base. Under the last Government, the number of pupils taking a core academic suite of subjects collapsed from 50% to 22%. Under this Government, the figure is back up to nearly 40%. We hope that with Progress 8 building on our EBacc we will now see an increase in arts subjects—and we have seen an increase in arts GCSEs in 2013 and 2014.

[Lord Geddes (Con)]

Does my noble friend agree that dance and music, in particular, form part of an all-round education?

[Lord Nash]

I agree entirely with my noble friend; they are essential subjects. We hope that as a result of our reforms there will be an increased focus on them.

Schools: Bullying

Debate between Lord Geddes and Lord Nash

Thursday 16th May 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I could not agree more. Suicide is a tragedy whenever it occurs. I am not familiar with Ten Ten but I would like to be; perhaps the noble Lord and I could discuss it later. We are particularly focusing on cyberbullying. Our central thrust is to send a strong message to all schools that bullying is not to be tolerated. We have focused Ofsted much more on four specific categories of which behaviour and well-being—including bullying—is one. We have also recently funded four organisations with £4 million to work with schools specifically on bullying.

[Lord Geddes]

My Lords, what practical help is being given to schools to prevent bullying?

[Lord Nash]

My Lords, in addition to the points that I have covered, including the Ofsted framework and the four organisations we have funded—namely BeatBullying, the Diana Award, Kidscape and the NCB—we are working with other innovative provision. In my own school, for instance, we have a programme where, if a child has been bullied and wishes to be out of school for a while, there is a student centre where they can come back in on a temporary basis and gradually engage again with classes until they have the confidence to get back into school life. I am keen to spread this practice elsewhere.

Young People: Personal Finances

Debate between Lord Geddes and Lord Nash

Thursday 7th February 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

It will be covered in terms of some financial fluency in maths lessons but I think it is going to be more integrated into citizenship.

[Lord Geddes]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Nash]

I agree entirely with the noble Lord and that is why we are enacting these proposals.

[Lord Geddes]

Does my noble friend agree that this is vitally important for those embarking for the first time on tertiary education—particularly the requirement to budget their expenses?

[Lord Nash]

I agree entirely with my noble friend. Schools should provide these pupils in particular with all the information that they need, including budgeting, student loans, bursaries and any other products available.