Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 11 July (HL16827, HL16828, HL16829, and HL16830), what estimate they have made of the percentage of visitors who would feel excluded (1) by separate communal male and female toilets, and (2) as a result of both toilets being gender-neutral.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The department has not identified any particular group of visitors that might feel excluded by separate communal male and female toilets or by both toilets being gender-neutral. The current approach for visitors supports individual choice rather than pre-supposing that particular groups of individuals have set or pre-determined preferences.
With this in mind, no estimates have been made regarding the percentage of visitors who may feel excluded by separate communal male and female toilets, and of both toilets being gender-neutral. In addition, because visitors are served by a range of different toilet types, we would not expect individuals to feel excluded. Visitors have not fed back any concerns or sense of exclusion regarding the provision. The department rarely receives feedback on the visitors’ area and where it does, it will take action.
In terms of the conversion of one toilet to gender-neutral status, while leaving the other as female only in the communal visitor area of Sanctuary Buildings, we are currently planning a major refurbishment of the visitor area. As part of that, we will review the facilities including the distribution of single sex and gender-neutral toilets.
No discussions with the cleaning staff in Sanctuary Buildings have been held regarding the condition of the gender-neutral toilets in the communal visitor area compared to that of the female-only toilets. We have set standards of cleanliness across all facilities. We have not been made aware that these standards have not been met in the visitors’ toilets. We will monitor this, and take action, if required.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 11 July (HL16827, HL16828, HL16829, and HL16830), which people they consider would feel excluded (1) by separate communal male and female toilets, and (2) as a result of both toilets being gender-neutral.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The department has not identified any particular group of visitors that might feel excluded by separate communal male and female toilets or by both toilets being gender-neutral. The current approach for visitors supports individual choice rather than pre-supposing that particular groups of individuals have set or pre-determined preferences.
With this in mind, no estimates have been made regarding the percentage of visitors who may feel excluded by separate communal male and female toilets, and of both toilets being gender-neutral. In addition, because visitors are served by a range of different toilet types, we would not expect individuals to feel excluded. Visitors have not fed back any concerns or sense of exclusion regarding the provision. The department rarely receives feedback on the visitors’ area and where it does, it will take action.
In terms of the conversion of one toilet to gender-neutral status, while leaving the other as female only in the communal visitor area of Sanctuary Buildings, we are currently planning a major refurbishment of the visitor area. As part of that, we will review the facilities including the distribution of single sex and gender-neutral toilets.
No discussions with the cleaning staff in Sanctuary Buildings have been held regarding the condition of the gender-neutral toilets in the communal visitor area compared to that of the female-only toilets. We have set standards of cleanliness across all facilities. We have not been made aware that these standards have not been met in the visitors’ toilets. We will monitor this, and take action, if required.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they decided to convert the communal visitors' area toilets in Sanctuary Buildings to unisex toilets.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
As part of the department’s actions to make the office environment as inclusive as possible, it introduced a series of gender-neutral toilets. This followed consultation with a range of staff networks representing individuals with different ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexualities and disabilities.
The department endeavours to cater for a diverse variety of visitors to all our offices. The London office receives the most visitors, and for their comfort, we provide toilets in the waiting area in reception. However, there is limited space. To make the area as accessible as possible to all potential visitors, there is a disabled toilet and two gender-neutral toilets. The gender-neutral toilets are walled floor to ceiling cubicles with a shared hand washing and access area.
Visitors who may not wish to use, or may feel uncomfortable using gender-neutral facilities are able to use other toilets in the building. They are available to visitors once they have passed through security or, if they are unable to wait, a member of the reception or security team can escort them to a single sex toilet. The facilities available in London include both gender-neutral toilets and those specifically for each sex; with single sex toilet blocks on all floors and a further 20 gender neutral toilets across five floors.
The department has not yet canvassed views on changes to the toilet facilities in the London office, as the department is about to commence a major refurbishment and upgrade to all its mechanical, electrical, water and drainage systems. As part of this, the department will consult with its staff on toilet facilities.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what toilet facilities they offer in Sanctuary Buildings to visitors who, by reason of (1) custom, (2) religion, or (3) any other reason, are unwilling to use unisex toilet facilities.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
As part of the department’s actions to make the office environment as inclusive as possible, it introduced a series of gender-neutral toilets. This followed consultation with a range of staff networks representing individuals with different ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexualities and disabilities.
The department endeavours to cater for a diverse variety of visitors to all our offices. The London office receives the most visitors, and for their comfort, we provide toilets in the waiting area in reception. However, there is limited space. To make the area as accessible as possible to all potential visitors, there is a disabled toilet and two gender-neutral toilets. The gender-neutral toilets are walled floor to ceiling cubicles with a shared hand washing and access area.
Visitors who may not wish to use, or may feel uncomfortable using gender-neutral facilities are able to use other toilets in the building. They are available to visitors once they have passed through security or, if they are unable to wait, a member of the reception or security team can escort them to a single sex toilet. The facilities available in London include both gender-neutral toilets and those specifically for each sex; with single sex toilet blocks on all floors and a further 20 gender neutral toilets across five floors.
The department has not yet canvassed views on changes to the toilet facilities in the London office, as the department is about to commence a major refurbishment and upgrade to all its mechanical, electrical, water and drainage systems. As part of this, the department will consult with its staff on toilet facilities.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, since the conversion of the communal visitors’ area toilets in Sanctuary Buildings to unisex toilets, they have canvassed views on the effects of that change; and if so, what response they received.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
As part of the department’s actions to make the office environment as inclusive as possible, it introduced a series of gender-neutral toilets. This followed consultation with a range of staff networks representing individuals with different ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexualities and disabilities.
The department endeavours to cater for a diverse variety of visitors to all our offices. The London office receives the most visitors, and for their comfort, we provide toilets in the waiting area in reception. However, there is limited space. To make the area as accessible as possible to all potential visitors, there is a disabled toilet and two gender-neutral toilets. The gender-neutral toilets are walled floor to ceiling cubicles with a shared hand washing and access area.
Visitors who may not wish to use, or may feel uncomfortable using gender-neutral facilities are able to use other toilets in the building. They are available to visitors once they have passed through security or, if they are unable to wait, a member of the reception or security team can escort them to a single sex toilet. The facilities available in London include both gender-neutral toilets and those specifically for each sex; with single sex toilet blocks on all floors and a further 20 gender neutral toilets across five floors.
The department has not yet canvassed views on changes to the toilet facilities in the London office, as the department is about to commence a major refurbishment and upgrade to all its mechanical, electrical, water and drainage systems. As part of this, the department will consult with its staff on toilet facilities.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation they undertook, and with whom, before they decided to convert the communal visitors’ area toilets in Sanctuary Buildings to unisex toilets; and what responses they received.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
As part of the department’s actions to make the office environment as inclusive as possible, it introduced a series of gender-neutral toilets. This followed consultation with a range of staff networks representing individuals with different ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexualities and disabilities.
The department endeavours to cater for a diverse variety of visitors to all our offices. The London office receives the most visitors, and for their comfort, we provide toilets in the waiting area in reception. However, there is limited space. To make the area as accessible as possible to all potential visitors, there is a disabled toilet and two gender-neutral toilets. The gender-neutral toilets are walled floor to ceiling cubicles with a shared hand washing and access area.
Visitors who may not wish to use, or may feel uncomfortable using gender-neutral facilities are able to use other toilets in the building. They are available to visitors once they have passed through security or, if they are unable to wait, a member of the reception or security team can escort them to a single sex toilet. The facilities available in London include both gender-neutral toilets and those specifically for each sex; with single sex toilet blocks on all floors and a further 20 gender neutral toilets across five floors.
The department has not yet canvassed views on changes to the toilet facilities in the London office, as the department is about to commence a major refurbishment and upgrade to all its mechanical, electrical, water and drainage systems. As part of this, the department will consult with its staff on toilet facilities.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of mainstream maintained schools in England offered Key Stage 4 alternatives to GCSEs, suitable for children with special educational, health or social care needs; how many children took such courses, in each of the last five years for which records are available; what are the most popular of those non-GCSE courses; and which organisations create them.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
There is not a range of non-GCSE qualifications taught at key stage 4 designed specifically for pupils with special educational needs (SEN). Pupils should have access to a broad and balanced curriculum. The national curriculum inclusion statement states that teachers should set high expectations for every pupil, whatever their prior attainment. Teachers should use appropriate assessment to set targets which are deliberately ambitious. Potential areas of difficulty should be identified and addressed at the outset. Lessons should be planned to address potential areas of difficulty and to remove barriers to pupil achievement. In many cases, such planning will mean that pupils with SEN and disabilities will be able to study the full national curriculum.
The department holds information on entries to non-GCSE qualifications included in the school performance tables, analysis of which is provided below.
The percentage of schools (mainstream[1]) with at least one pupil at the end of key stage 4[2] entering[3] non-GCSE qualifications[4], in each of the last 5 years, is shown in the table below:
| 2017/18[5] | 2016/17 | 2015/16 | 2014/15 | 2013/14 |
Number of mainstream schools | 3,175 | 3,153 | 3,113 | 3,069 | 3,037 |
Percentage of mainstream schools | 95 | 97 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
with at least one pupil entering | |||||
a non-GCSE qualification (%) |
The percentage of mainstream school pupils entering at least one non-GCSE qualification, in each of the last 5 years, is shown in the table below:
| 2017/18 | 2016/17 | 2015/16 | 2014/15 | 2013/14 |
Pupil cohort | 513,356 | 517,756 | 530,580 | 543,314 | 548,290 |
Percentage of mainstream pupils who sat | 40 | 52 | 72 | 71 | 68 |
at least one non-GCSE subject (%) |
Tables showing the 10 most entered non-GCSE qualifications in all state-funded mainstream schools are included in the attached spreadsheet.
[1] State-funded mainstream schools include academies, free schools, city technology colleges and further education colleges with provision for 14 to 16 year olds. They exclude state-funded special schools, independent schools, independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, hospital schools, pupil referral units and alternative provision (AP) (including pupil referral units, AP free schools and AP academies as well as state-funded AP placements in other institutions).
[2] Pupils are identified as being at the end of key stage 4 if they were on roll at the school and in year 11 at the time of the January school census for that year. Age is calculated as at 31 August for that year, and the majority of pupils at the end of key stage 4 were age 15 at the start of the academic year. Some pupils may complete this key stage in an earlier or later year group.
[3] The department does not collect data on which qualifications are offered by schools, instead figures based on which qualifications have been entered by pupils has been used as a proxy. There may be some qualifications offered by a school that no pupils sat exams in for each year.
[4] Figures only include qualifications included in performance tables.
[5] 2017/18 figures are revised figures. All other figures are final figures.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the attainment of non-GCSE Key Stage 4 qualifications is reflected in a student's Progress 8 score; and if not, what assessment they have made of the impact that has had on the school that child attends.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Attainment in up to 3 non-GCSE qualifications from the department’s approved list may count towards a pupil’s Progress 8 score. A full list of qualifications that count in key stage 4 performance tables is attached to this answer.
Also attached is an analysis, published by the department in March 2019, that provides an overview of pupil entries into non-GCSE qualifications at key stage 4 and how this varies by pupil characteristics.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the final funding band review for the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship standard of 15 August, what calculations or data were used to reach the conclusion that any new standard for a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship would be allocated to an initial band of £8,000.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
This is a matter for the Institute for Apprenticeships. I have asked its Chief Executive, Sir Gerry Berragan, to write to my noble Friend and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the final funding band review of 15 August for the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship standard, what items from the nominated training providers’ cost estimates were removed by that review as being ineligible.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
This is a matter for the Institute for Apprenticeships. I have asked its Chief Executive, Sir Gerry Berragan, to write to my noble Friend and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.