Further Education Institutions Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Education
Julia Buckley
Main Page: Julia Buckley (Labour - Shrewsbury)Department Debates - View all Julia Buckley's debates with the Department for Education
Further Education Institutions
Julia Buckley Excerpts(1 day, 23 hours ago)
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Anna Dixon
I am pleased to hear that the Labour Government have secured the future of Harrogate college. I also agree that it is vital that, as the workplace changes, people keep their skills up to date with lifelong learning, so it is essential that we protect and maintain adult education funding. I would like to hear from the Minister on that. Will she outline the Government’s plans to ensure sustainable funding for FE colleges, as well as the ongoing support for adult education as mentioned?
Julia Buckley (Shrewsbury) (Lab)
I thank my hon. Friend for this excellent debate. Does she agree that colleges like mine in Shrewsbury have achieved their “outstanding” status because of the breadth of training and qualifications that they offer across a wide rural area? Do the Minister and the Department need to recognise those twin challenges? One challenge is offering qualifications from supported internships right up to level 4 degree qualifications, and there is a massive rural challenge as well. Those twin challenges must be considered.
Anna Dixon
My hon. Friend is a great champion for her area and for rural communities. I agree that there are particular challenges for colleges seeking to deliver such a breadth of education and many different sorts of qualifications, and I know that the Government are looking at review and reform of that.
Let me turn to T-levels.