Oral Answers to Questions

Anneliese Midgley Excerpts

Monday 20th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Georgia Gould]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her leadership of the incredibly detailed Education Committee report, which I read with interest. I know how much expertise went into that, and how many conversations there were with parents; there is so much rich information in it. I agree that the partnership with health is essential, and that is something I am focused on. To give children and young people the best opportunities, we must work across Government to support young people with special educational needs.

[Anneliese Midgley (Knowsley) (Lab)]

6. What steps her Department is taking to ensure that it meets its target of two thirds of young people participating in higher-level learning.

[Mr Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) (Lab)]

14. What steps her Department is taking to ensure that it meets its target of two thirds of young people participating in higher-level learning.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)]

Later today I will make a statement on our post-16 education and skills White Paper, which sets out measures to support this learning ambition. For too long, skills have not been taken seriously, and that stops with Labour. Our long-term plan for national renewal will unlock opportunity for our young people, and drive growth for our country with clearer pathways, stronger alignment, and a renewed partnership between Government and business.

[Anneliese Midgley]

I thank the Secretary of State for her response. In Knowsley, while we are making progress with work from the council and organisations such as the Brilliant Club, we still fall below average for young people going into higher learning. Barriers remain to continuing education, and to developing skills for good jobs and good lives. Will she meet me to discuss how we can improve that?

[Bridget Phillipson]

I know how passionate my hon. Friend is about securing better life chances and more opportunities for children across her constituency, and I would be more than happy to meet her to discuss that, whether it is through the expanded work that we are delivering in our schools to raise standards, opportunities for young people to get into vocational or technical education, or further measures in the White Paper that I will be setting out later this afternoon.