Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide financial incentives for (1) training providers, and (2) employers, to encourage them to take on young people who have not already achieved a Grade 4 or above in English and Maths.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department recognises the importance of English and maths both in work and everyday life. For this reason, we are continuing to support participation in English and maths, training to meet employers’ needs, and progression in employment and further study.
The 16-19 funding formula has two payments to support schools, colleges, and all other 16-19 institutions where young people have not already achieved a Grade 4 or above in English and maths.
Students studying level 3 programmes (including T Levels), who have not yet attained these qualifications attract additional funding of a single £750 payment per subject if they are studying a 2-year programme, or a single £375 payment per subject if they are studying a 1-year programme.
Disadvantage funding is provided to help attract and retain disadvantaged 16-19-year-olds. A rate of £480 is available per instance of a full-time student without grade 4 GCSE English or maths.
In addition, the 16-19 tuition fund provides ring-fenced funding for schools, colleges and all other 16-19 institutions who receive annual funding allocations from the Education and Skills Funding Agency for the provision of 16-19 education. £222 million has been made available across the next two academic years to provide small group tutoring activity for disadvantaged 16-19 students whose studies have been disrupted through the impact of the pandemic, and who have not achieved a level 4 or 5 in GCSE maths and English. From the 2022/23 academic year, additional flexibilities will be introduced around which students can receive tuition support. This will not impact the way funding is allocated.
The Condition of Funding (CoF/resits) policy requires full-time 16-19 learners to continue studying English and maths if they have not yet achieved level 2.
The number of learners achieving level 2 in English and maths by the age of 19 has improved since the CoF policy was introduced. In 2019, 72% of 19-year-olds had achieved level 2 in English and maths, a 12-percentage point rise, compared with the level of achievement at age 16, which stood at 60%. To put it another way, that year almost 63,000 learners had achieved English and maths through their post-16 providers, compared with around 37,500 in 2014.
Targeted English and maths professional development for teachers supporting 16-19-year-olds continuing to work towards level 2 English and maths has been provided through government grant funding since 2013. The department continues support into this new Spending Review period, including a recently launched grant competition to fund up to £3 million over the next three years to provide these teachers with free, high-quality professional development that is targeted specifically to help them support this cohort of learners
Continuing to invest in teachers’ skills provides additional means of supporting young people to gain vital English and maths qualifications, boosting, and levelling up education standards, so that young people in every part of the country have greater opportunities for employment and study.
English and maths qualifications are also an important part of the apprenticeship programme. The department provides funding for apprentices to achieve up to an approved level 2 qualification in English and maths where they do not already hold a suitable equivalent qualification.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow use of the meal voucher scheme during the summer holidays.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Free school meals (FSM) are an educational entitlement intended to support children while they are learning. Pupils do not receive FSM when they are not receiving education. This includes school holidays.
Children who are in receipt of FSM are eligible for a free place on the holiday activities and food programme. The programme is being delivered in all 152 local authorities in England. It ensures that disadvantaged children have access to healthy food and enriching activities during the longer school holiday periods.
To support people who need additional help, the government is providing an extra £500 million of local support via the Household Support Fund, which will be extended from October 2022 to March 2023. This brings the total amount provided through the Household Support Fund since October 2021 to £1.5 billion. This is administered by local councils in England and helps those in most need with payments towards the rising cost of food, energy, and water bills.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a British Baccalaureate which offers a mix of (1) academic, and (2) vocational, qualifications at age 18.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Since 2010, the government’s reforms have made a lasting improvement to the rigour of qualifications, ensuring they reflect the knowledge and skills pupils need to progress. With further reforms currently in train, the department has no plans to introduce a Baccalaureate-style system at age 18.
GCSEs were reformed from 2013 to ensure they rigorously assess the knowledge acquired by pupils during key stage 4. They are in line with the expected standards in high-performing jurisdictions. Around half of students change institution at age 16. GCSEs therefore provide an important reflection of academic attainment, giving students recognised and respected qualifications, and supporting a smooth transition between institutions.
With the benefit of a broad education pre-16, students can then specialise post-16. The academic and technical pathways the department has developed serve different purposes, but they are rigorous and enable students to progress to the next stage of their education or employment.
The academic pathway includes our gold standard A levels. We have worked with higher education (HE) providers to reform A levels to ensure they are as robust as possible and support progression to HE.
The technical pathway includes T levels, which have been designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours they need to secure employment in a range of occupations or to progress to higher technical education. Our ten new T levels, including digital, construction, and health and science, are now being taught. Over twenty T Levels will be available by 2023.
In addition, our high-quality apprenticeships provide young people with the opportunity to earn while learning the skills needed to start an exciting career in a wide range of industries. There are currently over 640 employer-designed apprenticeship standards available at all levels, ensuring a wide variety of options for young people. We are also promoting front-loaded and accelerated apprenticeships to ensure apprentices can hit the ground running, and to support progression from other skills programmes, including T levels.
The department is also streamlining and improving the quality of all post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below. The changes we are making will give students a clear route map to the high-quality technical and academic pathways available, which they can trust to lead to rewarding careers.
The department is confident that recent and upcoming reforms have and will provide students with a range of rigorous and evidence-informed academic and technical qualifications, and that our qualifications system supports all students to achieve their full potential.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require the Office for Students to (1) monitor trends in international student recruitment, and (2) impose regulatory conditions on universities that have low diversity rates among their student body.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department monitors international student recruitment trends and has set out in the International Education Strategy (IES) that diversification and sustainable recruitment of international students remains a key strategic priority.
The IES sets an ambition to host at least 600,000 international higher education students in the UK, per year, by 2030. This ambition was met for the first time in the 2020/21 academic year, with over 605,000 international students studying in the UK.
The government does not plan to require the Office for Students (OfS) to undertake additional monitoring of trends in international student recruitment.
Regarding measures to improve diversity at specific providers, under OfS registration condition A1, all approved (fee cap) providers charging higher fees must have an approved access and participation plan in place. These must present a credible, ambitious strategy by the provider for closing identified gaps in access, continuation, and progression for disadvantaged and under-represented groups within their student body. Providers are held accountable on their targets via an annual monitoring return to the OfS. 171 providers had an OfS approved access and participation plan in the 2020/21 academic year, in accordance with the regulatory framework and powers under the Higher Education and Research Act 2017.
It is important that providers focus on supporting students to see good outcomes, not just getting more disadvantaged students through the door, this is what will ensure that Higher Education (HE) remains an engine of true social mobility. The department expects providers to do more to support high prior attainment for all, and to help students to identify and access the pathways that are right for them. That is why we have tasked the OfS through guidance issued in November 2021 with a reboot of access and participation in English HE.
John Blake, as Director for Fair Access and Participation at the OfS, is responsible for driving these changes forward. John is working closely with the sector to encourage stronger partnerships between HE providers and schools, and the expansion of the range of courses that are both offered and promoted to prospective students.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to run a national campaign for adult education explaining (1) what opportunities are free to access, and (2) how to access courses.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
A large number of providers across the country, such as further education colleges and Independent Training Providers, are already delivering local adult education and skills provision. This ensures that adult learners have the opportunity to gain new qualifications and skills in their area.
The department is continuing to invest in education and skills training for adults through the adult education budget (AEB). This comprises £1.34 billion in the 2021/22 academic year. The AEB fully funds, or co-funds, skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3. This is to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship, or further learning.
The department is also investing £1.6 billion through the National Skills Fund across the 2022 to 2025 financial years, on top of the £375 million already committed in the 2021/22 financial year. This includes investment of up to £550 million to significantly expand Skills Bootcamps, and investment to expand the eligibility for delivery of the Free Courses for Jobs offer, which is now open to more adults.
The National Careers Service provides free, up-to-date, and impartial information, advice, and guidance to help individuals consider the different programmes, learning and skills opportunities in their local areas. This helps them determine which route would be best for them. This includes community-based face-to-face service for priority groups of adults, such as those with low qualification levels or learning difficulties and disabilities.
The department launched the Skills for Life campaign in January 2022, focusing on adults in England. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the different education and training routes available for adults to get the skills they need to get the job they want, whatever their stage in life. This includes promotion of free opportunities for adults, such as Skills Bootcamps, Free Courses for Jobs, apprenticeships, Multiply and essential maths, English, and digital skills. The campaign signposts adults to Skills for Life and the National Careers Service to find out more and apply. The department plans to launch the second phase of the campaign later this year.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a branded adult education centre in every town which supports adults into learning and throughout their education journey.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
A large number of providers across the country, such as further education colleges and Independent Training Providers, are already delivering local adult education and skills provision. This ensures that adult learners have the opportunity to gain new qualifications and skills in their area.
The department is continuing to invest in education and skills training for adults through the adult education budget (AEB). This comprises £1.34 billion in the 2021/22 academic year. The AEB fully funds, or co-funds, skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3. This is to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship, or further learning.
The department is also investing £1.6 billion through the National Skills Fund across the 2022 to 2025 financial years, on top of the £375 million already committed in the 2021/22 financial year. This includes investment of up to £550 million to significantly expand Skills Bootcamps, and investment to expand the eligibility for delivery of the Free Courses for Jobs offer, which is now open to more adults.
The National Careers Service provides free, up-to-date, and impartial information, advice, and guidance to help individuals consider the different programmes, learning and skills opportunities in their local areas. This helps them determine which route would be best for them. This includes community-based face-to-face service for priority groups of adults, such as those with low qualification levels or learning difficulties and disabilities.
The department launched the Skills for Life campaign in January 2022, focusing on adults in England. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the different education and training routes available for adults to get the skills they need to get the job they want, whatever their stage in life. This includes promotion of free opportunities for adults, such as Skills Bootcamps, Free Courses for Jobs, apprenticeships, Multiply and essential maths, English, and digital skills. The campaign signposts adults to Skills for Life and the National Careers Service to find out more and apply. The department plans to launch the second phase of the campaign later this year.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow businesses to direct the apprenticeship levy towards prison rehabilitation schemes.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department fully supports preparing prisoners for employment upon their release and recognises how important this is. We are working with the Ministry of Justice to introduce an apprenticeship programme for those in prison and who are close to being released, in order for these individuals to benefit from the enhanced skills and employment prospects that apprenticeships bring.
We expect to make the necessary changes to legislation by the autumn to allow the first apprenticeship starts later on this year. Initially, up to 100 prisoners a year will be supported to begin an apprenticeship in custody.
The introduction of apprenticeships for serving prisoners later this year will allow levy-paying employers to use their levy funds to support apprenticeships for those in custody. Levy payers can already employ prisoners as apprentices upon their release and can use their levy funds to support these apprenticeships.
We do not have plans to allow businesses to direct levy funds intended for apprenticeships towards prisoner rehabilitation schemes. The Ministry of Justice is responsible for, and receives funding to deliver, prisoner education and rehabilitation services.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to offer early learning and childcare spaces for children under the age of six.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department does not directly offer childcare places, but it does support the take up of places, and each local authority has a duty to ensure that there are sufficient childcare places for all parents that need them.
The department has invested more than £3.5 billion in each of the last three years to deliver early education entitlements. All three and four-year-old children can access 15 hours of free childcare a week. We have doubled this for three and four-year-olds in families with working parents, saving them over £6,000 a year. The 15 hours of free childcare is also available for two-year-olds from lower-income families. The department recently announced that it is investing additional funding for these entitlements worth £160 million in 2022/23, £180 million in 2023/24 and £170 million in the 2024/25 financial years, compared to the 2021/22 financial year.
Outside of school hours, children aged five and above can access wraparound childcare, holiday childcare and other out-of-school settings that provide childcare. The department’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme supported more than 600,000 children last summer with free holiday club places. We are making more than £600 million available to local authorities in England over the next three years for the HAF programme, so that we can continue to provide disadvantaged children and families with access to clubs that provide healthy food and enriching activities during the longer school holidays.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to require schools to implement anti-racist policies.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
There is no place for racism in our education system and schools have an important role in preparing pupils for life in modern Britain, by supporting them to understand the society in which they grow up in and teaching about respect for other people and difference.
The department has no plans to place specific requirements on schools, but we expect them to take steps to tackle racist and discriminatory attitudes or incidents and condemn racism within the school and wider society. Challenging intolerant, racist or discriminatory views, where these are shared at school, should be seen as part of schools’ wider anti-bullying and safeguarding duties.
Further to this, relationships education is now compulsory in all schools and the relationships, sex and health education curriculum has a strong focus on equality, respect, the harmful impact of stereotyping, as well as the importance of valuing difference.
Under the Equality Act 2010, schools must not discriminate against a pupil in a number of respects because of a characteristic protected by the act. State-funded schools are also subject to the public sector equality duty. The department has published guidance for schools to help them comply with their duties, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to decrease energy costs in schools.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is committed to reducing energy use in new and existing buildings, and to meeting the legislative net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050.
The department’s capital funding and programmes help both to reduce carbon emissions and to save schools money on operating costs, through delivering new school buildings and improving the existing school estate.
The department recognises that schools will be facing cost pressures in the coming months, particularly due to the increase in energy prices. We are looking carefully at how this will impact schools and are considering what additional support we could offer.
The department has contacted all schools in England to get basic data on their current and future energy tariffs to better understand how they have been affected by recent energy price increases, so we can consider what additional support we can offer. The survey closed on 2 June 2022.
The department’s schools resource management tools include recommended deals for energy costs and ancillary services relating to energy. We will also update and strengthen guidance on a regular basis to inform schools of the market and commercial position, with practical advice on exiting existing and entering new contracts, available here: https://www.get-help-buying-for-schools.service.gov.uk/procurement-support. The ‘get help buying for schools’ service will also be able to offer support to schools in switching and entering new contracts and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-a-dfe-approved-framework-for-your-school.
The department knows that every school’s circumstances are different, and where schools are in serious financial difficulty, they should contact their local authority or the Education and Skills Funding Agency.