Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with representatives of the higher education sector on ensuring that universities retain appropriate institutional autonomy in relation to pension provision; and whether she is considering any changes to the regulatory framework governing participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme by higher education institutions.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The primary objectives of public service pension valuations are to ensure schemes are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both taxpayers and workers. The government remains committed to these objectives.
The Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates will be 17.68 percent from April 2027 to March 2031. This rate was determined using a consistent and well-established methodology set by HM Treasury and informed by advice from the Government Actuary’s Department.
The department recognises the importance of giving employers sufficient notice of contribution rate changes and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout future valuation exercises to support effective financial planning. The next valuation is not due to complete until 2030 and will be based on future data and assumptions that are not yet available. It is too early to speculate on the potential outcome of the next valuation.
The department recognises that changes in employer contribution rates can affect the financial planning of participating higher education (HE) institutions and understands the importance of having timely clarity as they prepare for the implementation of any changes from April 2027. The valuation cycle provides employers with advance notice of changes, and a clear and stable contribution rate for the years covered. The department will continue to support transparency and predictability in future contribution rate setting.
HE providers, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for making their own business decisions in response to changes in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates. As set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government continues to engage with HE providers and workforce representatives to better understand concerns relating to pension provision in the post-1992 HE sector, including affordability and sustainability.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the impact of volatility in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates on the financial sustainability and long term business planning of higher education institutions that are required to participate in the scheme; and what steps she is taking to improve predictability and stability in future contribution-rate setting.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The primary objectives of public service pension valuations are to ensure schemes are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both taxpayers and workers. The government remains committed to these objectives.
The Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates will be 17.68 percent from April 2027 to March 2031. This rate was determined using a consistent and well-established methodology set by HM Treasury and informed by advice from the Government Actuary’s Department.
The department recognises the importance of giving employers sufficient notice of contribution rate changes and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout future valuation exercises to support effective financial planning. The next valuation is not due to complete until 2030 and will be based on future data and assumptions that are not yet available. It is too early to speculate on the potential outcome of the next valuation.
The department recognises that changes in employer contribution rates can affect the financial planning of participating higher education (HE) institutions and understands the importance of having timely clarity as they prepare for the implementation of any changes from April 2027. The valuation cycle provides employers with advance notice of changes, and a clear and stable contribution rate for the years covered. The department will continue to support transparency and predictability in future contribution rate setting.
HE providers, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for making their own business decisions in response to changes in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates. As set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government continues to engage with HE providers and workforce representatives to better understand concerns relating to pension provision in the post-1992 HE sector, including affordability and sustainability.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the factors that led to the reduction in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rate from 28.68 per cent to 17.68 per cent from April 2027; and whether her Department has assessed the likelihood of employer contribution rates increasing again at the next scheme valuation or review.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The primary objectives of public service pension valuations are to ensure schemes are affordable, sustainable, and fair to both taxpayers and workers. The government remains committed to these objectives.
The Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates will be 17.68 percent from April 2027 to March 2031. This rate was determined using a consistent and well-established methodology set by HM Treasury and informed by advice from the Government Actuary’s Department.
The department recognises the importance of giving employers sufficient notice of contribution rate changes and will continue to engage with stakeholders throughout future valuation exercises to support effective financial planning. The next valuation is not due to complete until 2030 and will be based on future data and assumptions that are not yet available. It is too early to speculate on the potential outcome of the next valuation.
The department recognises that changes in employer contribution rates can affect the financial planning of participating higher education (HE) institutions and understands the importance of having timely clarity as they prepare for the implementation of any changes from April 2027. The valuation cycle provides employers with advance notice of changes, and a clear and stable contribution rate for the years covered. The department will continue to support transparency and predictability in future contribution rate setting.
HE providers, as autonomous institutions, are responsible for making their own business decisions in response to changes in Teachers’ Pension Scheme employer contribution rates. As set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the government continues to engage with HE providers and workforce representatives to better understand concerns relating to pension provision in the post-1992 HE sector, including affordability and sustainability.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has had discussions with the AQA exam board on the potential impact of wage stagnation on its staff.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Ofqual, the independent regulator of exams and assessments in England, oversees awarding organisations, including AQA, by conducting readiness reviews, evaluating their governance and ability to manage key delivery risks.
The department has received assurances from Ofqual that AQA has contingency processes in place to mitigate any risks to exam delivery.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the AQA exam board regarding resolving strike action taken by staff over pay.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Ofqual, the independent regulator of exams and assessments in England, oversees awarding organisations, including AQA, by conducting readiness reviews, evaluating their governance and ability to manage key delivery risks.
The department has received assurances from Ofqual that AQA has contingency processes in place to mitigate any risks to exam delivery.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she expects joint non-statutory guidance from the Department for Education, the Department for Health and Social Care and the NHS on how clinical healthcare is delivered in schools to be published.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Schools are not responsible for clinical healthcare tasks. Healthcare tasks can be delegated to staff in schools and other education settings where the responsible healthcare professional considers delegation safe and appropriate.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) both include a regulatory standard requiring registrants to delegate only when they are satisfied that the other person is competent to carry out the delegated task safely and require the healthcare practitioner to supervise and support those who are delegated to. Further information can be found at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/ and https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-conduct-performance-and-ethics/.
The department and the Department of Health and Social Care will publish guidance on clinical healthcare in schools in due course.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what action she is taking to support school teachers who are responsible for administering healthcare to students with medical conditions.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Schools are not responsible for clinical healthcare tasks. Healthcare tasks can be delegated to staff in schools and other education settings where the responsible healthcare professional considers delegation safe and appropriate.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) both include a regulatory standard requiring registrants to delegate only when they are satisfied that the other person is competent to carry out the delegated task safely and require the healthcare practitioner to supervise and support those who are delegated to. Further information can be found at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/ and https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-conduct-performance-and-ethics/.
The department and the Department of Health and Social Care will publish guidance on clinical healthcare in schools in due course.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her department is taking to support autistic students with Pathological Demand Avoidance in mainstream school settings.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Manchester Rusholme, to the answer of 15 April 2026 to Question 121149.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities with the provision of Education Otherwise Than At School.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing parity of pay between teachers in further education colleges and sixth forms.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Further education (FE) teachers are central to delivering high quality technical education. Last year, we announced an additional £190 million to help colleges and other 16-19 providers address the recruitment and retention of specialist FE teachers. In addition, our targeted retention incentive offer is designed to retain eligible FE teachers in technical subjects with payments of up to £6,000 after tax. In its first year, nearly 6,000 teachers received a payment.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and my noble Friend, the Minister for Skills have regular engagement with FE stakeholders including the Association of Colleges (AoC) on a range of issues, including matters pertaining to funding. FE pay remains a matter for individual colleges supported by the National Joint Forum, the AoC’s national bargaining arrangements.