Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their requirements for the continuation of the UK's participation in the Erasmus+ programme beyond the 2021/22 academic year; whether they have any plans for a UK-only scheme if an agreement for such participation is not reached; and if so, what are the (1) principles, and (2) requirements, of any such scheme.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As part of our negotiations with the EU about our future relationship, the government considered the EU programmes with which the UK was involved and decided whether or not we should continue to seek participation in these programmes.
Our public mandate set out that we would consider options for participation in elements of Erasmus+ on a time-limited basis, provided that the terms were in the UK’s interests. Unfortunately, the only terms on offer would have meant that the UK would have been likely to pay in around £2 billion more than we would get out over the term of the next programme. The government decided that that would not have provided value for money and be in the interests of the UK taxpayer.
Instead, as an independent and sovereign country, we will proceed with the introduction of a new international educational exchange scheme which has a genuinely global reach and which increases social mobility.
The newly announced Turing scheme, which replaces the UK’s participation in Erasmus+, will allow thousands of students to study and take part in work placements in the EU and beyond. The scheme will be backed by over £100 million, providing funding for around 35,000 students in universities, colleges, and schools to go on placements and exchanges overseas, starting in September 2021.
The new scheme will also target students from disadvantaged backgrounds and areas which did not previously have many students benefiting from Erasmus+, making life-changing opportunities accessible to everyone across the country.
The programme will provide similar opportunities for students to study and work abroad as the Erasmus+ programme, but it will include countries across the world, and it aims to deliver greater value for money to taxpayers.
The government will set out further details in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether having (1) settled status, or (2) pre-settled status, is a sufficient qualification for an application for a student loan; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We have agreed with the European Union (EU) that current EU principles of equal treatment will continue to apply for those people covered by the citizens’ rights provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement. This means that EU nationals resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 will be eligible for support on a similar basis to domestic students.
EU nationals with settled status or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme must meet the relevant residency requirements when they start their course in order to access home fee status and student financial support.
Other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals benefiting from citizens’ rights under the EEA European Free Trade Association Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively, and meeting the relevant residency requirements, will continue to have access to student finance on the same basis as now.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require all schools to ensure that children know the Countryside Code and the need to adhere to it.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Maintained schools are required to teach the national curriculum as part of their wider school curriculum. Details of the national curriculum subjects and content of programmes of study for each can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum.
Academies are not required to follow the national curriculum, though they are expected to teach a curriculum that is similar in breadth and ambition, and are required by their funding agreements to teach English, mathematics, science and religious education.
All schools are required to teach a balanced and broadly based curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils, and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
While it is not a prescribed topic in the national curriculum, all state-funded schools have the flexibility within their school curriculum to teach about the Countryside Code if they choose to do so, through for example:
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they are giving to schools in England on the process for reopening for the autumn term.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their wellbeing to have social interactions with their teachers and friends. Our intention is for all children to return to school from September.
Within the next two weeks, we will publish further information and guidance to help schools prepare for September. We will be guided by the latest scientific advice and are working with the sector to ensure our guidance provides schools with the further details they need, including any protective measures that may be necessary to keep children and teachers as safe as possible, staffing advice and transport considerations.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the ability of schools in England to reopen in September will be affected by (1) social distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures, (2) staffing levels, (3) accommodation capacity, and (4) financial resources; and whether responsibility for these matters lies with (a) schools, (b) the Department for Education, (c) local authorities, (d) regional schools commissioners, or (e) academy trusts.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their wellbeing to have social interactions with their teachers and friends. Our intention is for all children to return to school from September.
Within the next two weeks, we will publish further information and guidance to help schools prepare for September. We will be guided by the latest scientific advice and are working with the sector to ensure our guidance provides schools with the further details they need, including any protective measures that may be necessary to keep children and teachers as safe as possible, staffing advice and transport considerations.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children who normally attend school in (1) Lancashire, and (2) Pendle, have (a) no access to a computer or laptop, and (b) been provided with a laptop.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department is providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10. Vulnerable children are those receiving support from a social worker, including pre-school children, or are a care leaver.
Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify the children and young people who are in need of devices and distribute the laptops and tablets. The devices have been allocated to local authorities and academy trusts based on the department’s estimates of the number of disadvantaged and vulnerable children that do not have access to a device. Where local authorities and academy trusts have identified a need greater than their initial allocation, the department has been working with them to provide additional devices.
In May, the department invited local authorities to order devices for the most vulnerable children first. Earlier this month, the department started inviting academy trusts and local authorities to order their devices for disadvantaged year 10 pupils. Thousands of devices continue to be delivered each day. Laptops and tablets will continue to be ordered and delivered throughout June.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the implications of resetting the last academic year so that the 2019–20 curriculum starts again at the start of the autumn term this year, in the event of most students in schools not being able to return until that time or later; and whether any advance planning for such a reset is taking place.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
From the week commencing 1 June 2020, we have asked primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups (vulnerable children and children of critical workers). This is the first step in a cautious and phased approach to fully reopening schools.
We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with their peers, carers and teachers.
The department has issued guidance on remote education during the COVID-19 outbreak and has supported The Oak National Academy, an initiative led by 40 teachers who have assembled video lessons and online resources to be used by any teacher in the country for every year group from Reception to year 10. Additionally, the BBC has developed resources as part of a comprehensive new education package available on TV via the red button, on iPlayer and online.
The department continues to work with the education sector on how best to make up for time spent out of school. We are not, however, expecting children and young people to have to restart the academic year in the autumn term.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the physical and operational requirements for the safe return of all students to schools at the start of the autumn term; and what discussions they have had with (1) school authorities, and (2) school staff, (3) trade unions representing teachers and other staff, (4) local authorities,(5) representatives of academies and academy chains, and (6) representatives of independent schools, about those requirements.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department’s approach to facilitating the safe return of all students at the start of the new 2020-21 academic year is underpinned by the government’s assessment of the latest scientific advice that indicates a need to take a phased approach to their return. This is why we have limited numbers of children returning before the summer break into nurseries and schools, with numbers only to increase as the science permits.
To help support nurseries and schools to plan and prepare for the return of their children, the department has recently published a range of detailed guidance for each type of setting on how to implement protective measures. This includes effective infection protection and control for direct and indirect transmission as well as a list of actions for settings to complete before reopening, in addition to guidance on actions for childcare and educational settings to prepare for wider opening. All of the department’s COVID-19 guidance for nurseries and schools, including that on implementing protective measures and preparing settings to reopen, can be found in one place on GOV.UK at:
We continue to keep this guidance under review so any operational issues arising in nurseries and schools are addressed, key lessons to be learnt are captured and acted on, and best practice is actively shared.
Leading up to and since the commencement of the wider opening of nurseries and schools on 1 June (the latter to children in Reception and, years 1 and 6), and in preparation for the return of years 10 and 12 students to secondary schools with effect from 15 June, the department’s Regional Education and Children’s Teams (REACTs) have been, and remain, in regular contact with local authorities (Directors of Children’s Services and/or their representatives) and academy trusts in England to discuss local plans and issues, and to offer them support.
The department also continues to engage with education unions, professional associations and those other national representative bodies who represent headteachers and college principals, teachers and lecturers, school and other education setting support staff, school and college governors and local authority chief officers.
Additionally, the Independent Schools Council and the Boarding Schools Association have been, and remain, actively involved in discussions with both Department for Education officials and with ministers on the opening up of their members’ schools to more students.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of a no-deal Brexit on the (1) funding, and (2) operation, of the Erasmus+ programme; and what guidance they have provided to UK organisations which participate in that programme about preparation for a possible no-deal Brexit.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We recognise that institutions and individuals are concerned about the impacts of EU exit on staff and student mobility. Following the extension of Article 50, the European Commission has made clear that the UK continues to participate fully in the current programme and has reiterated that ‘the future withdrawal of the United Kingdom cannot be invoked as a justification to cancel a Key Action 1 mobility started (or planned to be started) while the United Kingdom is still a Member State’. This should provide welcome reassurance to participants, providers and our partners in the EU.
Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, UK entities' right to participate in EU programmes during the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), such as Erasmus+, will be unaffected by the UK's withdrawal from the EU for the lifetime of projects financed by the current MFF.
In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the government will engage with the European Commission with the aim of securing the UK’s participation in Erasmus+ until the end of 2020.
The HMG guarantee will cover the payment of awards to UK applicants for all successful Erasmus+ bids submitted before the end of 2020 and it commits the government to underwriting funding for the entire lifetime of the projects. Successful bids are ones that are approved directly by the Commission or by the UK National Agency and ratified by the Commission. Attached guidance for Erasmus+ beneficiaries on how to register for the guarantee was published in April on GOV.UK at https://bit.ly/2HimZlD. Attached latest news on the possible impact of Brexit on the programme is available on the UK National Agency website at https://bit.ly/2ItnGaE and this includes the UK Government's Frequently Asked Questions relating to the guidance.
Furthermore, the Commission’s Erasmus+ contingency Regulation establishes that students abroad on exit day will not see their mobilities disrupted, even in a no deal scenario. The Regulation applies to mobility activities starting at the latest on the date of withdrawal (31 October 2019) and which take place in the United Kingdom or involve entities or participants from the United Kingdom.
Data on number of Erasmus+ participants by participating organisations is only available for Higher Education mobility. Figures for the last 5 academic years can be found in Table 2 in the ‘Erasmus+ UK Higher Education Statistics 2017’ attached, available on the ‘Project Mobilities and Outputs’ section of the website at the following link: https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/statistics. Figures for the number of people from the UK participating in 2019-20 will be published by the National Agency in due course.
Data on UK participation in the Erasmus+ programme as well as participation from outside the UK is available on the European Commission’s website. Figures for the last 5 academic years have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and are available at the following links:
https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4e5c3e1c-1f0b-11e9-8d04-01aa75ed71a1 (‘Statistical annex 2017’, pages 20 – 51);
https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/49350560-0d56-11e8-966a-01aa75ed71a1/language-en (‘Statistical annex 2016’, pages 22-47);
https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/sites/erasmusplus2/files/erasmus-plus-annual-report-2015-annex-1_en.pdf (‘Statistical annex 2015’, annex 5A – 10B);
http://ec.europa.eu/assets/eac/education/library/statistics/ar-statistical-annex_en.pdf (‘Statistical annex 2014’, table 3.7);
http://ec.europa.eu/assets/eac/education/library/statistics/erasmus-plus-facts-figures_en.pdf. (‘Statistical annex 2013-2014’, page 34).
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people (1) from, and (2) outside of the, UK have participated in the Erasmus+ programme at participating organisations in (a) the UK, and (b) other countries, in each of the last five academic years; and how many such people are expected to participate in 2019–20.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
We recognise that institutions and individuals are concerned about the impacts of EU exit on staff and student mobility. Following the extension of Article 50, the European Commission has made clear that the UK continues to participate fully in the current programme and has reiterated that ‘the future withdrawal of the United Kingdom cannot be invoked as a justification to cancel a Key Action 1 mobility started (or planned to be started) while the United Kingdom is still a Member State’. This should provide welcome reassurance to participants, providers and our partners in the EU.
Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, UK entities' right to participate in EU programmes during the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), such as Erasmus+, will be unaffected by the UK's withdrawal from the EU for the lifetime of projects financed by the current MFF.
In the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the government will engage with the European Commission with the aim of securing the UK’s participation in Erasmus+ until the end of 2020.
The HMG guarantee will cover the payment of awards to UK applicants for all successful Erasmus+ bids submitted before the end of 2020 and it commits the government to underwriting funding for the entire lifetime of the projects. Successful bids are ones that are approved directly by the Commission or by the UK National Agency and ratified by the Commission. Attached guidance for Erasmus+ beneficiaries on how to register for the guarantee was published in April on GOV.UK at https://bit.ly/2HimZlD. Attached latest news on the possible impact of Brexit on the programme is available on the UK National Agency website at https://bit.ly/2ItnGaE and this includes the UK Government's Frequently Asked Questions relating to the guidance.
Furthermore, the Commission’s Erasmus+ contingency Regulation establishes that students abroad on exit day will not see their mobilities disrupted, even in a no deal scenario. The Regulation applies to mobility activities starting at the latest on the date of withdrawal (31 October 2019) and which take place in the United Kingdom or involve entities or participants from the United Kingdom.
Data on number of Erasmus+ participants by participating organisations is only available for Higher Education mobility. Figures for the last 5 academic years can be found in Table 2 in the ‘Erasmus+ UK Higher Education Statistics 2017’ attached, available on the ‘Project Mobilities and Outputs’ section of the website at the following link: https://www.erasmusplus.org.uk/statistics. Figures for the number of people from the UK participating in 2019-20 will be published by the National Agency in due course.
Data on UK participation in the Erasmus+ programme as well as participation from outside the UK is available on the European Commission’s website. Figures for the last 5 academic years have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and are available at the following links:
https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4e5c3e1c-1f0b-11e9-8d04-01aa75ed71a1 (‘Statistical annex 2017’, pages 20 – 51);
https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/49350560-0d56-11e8-966a-01aa75ed71a1/language-en (‘Statistical annex 2016’, pages 22-47);
https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/sites/erasmusplus2/files/erasmus-plus-annual-report-2015-annex-1_en.pdf (‘Statistical annex 2015’, annex 5A – 10B);
http://ec.europa.eu/assets/eac/education/library/statistics/ar-statistical-annex_en.pdf (‘Statistical annex 2014’, table 3.7);
http://ec.europa.eu/assets/eac/education/library/statistics/erasmus-plus-facts-figures_en.pdf. (‘Statistical annex 2013-2014’, page 34).