Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the evidential basis is for the decision to not advise school staff to wear personal protective equipment when schools resume in September 2020.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department has published guidance for the full opening of schools from the beginning of the autumn term. The guidance can be found here:
The Department has worked closely with Public Health England (PHE) to develop this guidance based on a ‘system of controls’ which, when implemented in line with a revised risk assessment, create an inherently safer environment for children and staff where the risk of transmission of the infection is substantially reduced. This provides a framework for schools to put in place proportionate protective measures to manage risk effectively.
The majority of staff in schools will not require personal protective equipment (PPE) beyond what they would normally need for their work. PPE is only needed in a very small number of cases, which are set out clearly in the guidance.
On 26 August 2020, the Department revised its guidance on face coverings in schools and colleges following a new statement by the World Health Organisation on 21 August, which advised that children aged 12 and over should wear face coverings under the same condition as adults, particularly when they cannot guarantee at least a 1 metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area. This guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education/face-coverings-in-education.
As a result, from 1 September, in areas of national Government intervention, face coverings should be worn by staff, visitors and pupils in years 7 and above when moving around schools indoors, for example in corridors and communal areas, where social distancing cannot be safely managed. Nationwide, schools will have the discretion to require staff, visitors and pupils in years 7 and above to wear face coverings in indoor communal areas where social distancing cannot be safely managed, if they believe that it is right in their particular circumstances.
Primary school children will not need to wear a face covering and based on current evidence and the measures that schools are already putting in place, face coverings will not be necessary in the classroom even where social distancing is not possible. Face coverings would have a negative impact on teaching and their use in the classroom should be avoided.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness for prospective applicants to student finance of the requirement to have legal status for three years.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
To qualify for support from Student Finance England, a person must have settled status or a recognised connection to the United Kingdom and meet the relevant ordinary residence requirements. Most persons must have been ordinarily (lawfully) resident in the United Kingdom and Islands, or, in some cases, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, for the 3 years prior to the first day of the first academic year of their course, excluding periods of temporary absence. These are longstanding requirements.
Student Finance England publishes guidance for students about the eligibility criteria for student support, to include the ordinary residence requirements:
https://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/supporting-materials/.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate the Government has made of the number of universities that have charged (a) full or (b) partial tuition fees during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Higher education providers are autonomous institutions and responsible for setting their own fees. Higher education providers will of course want to ensure that they can continue to deliver courses that are fit for purpose and that help students progress their qualifications.
As of 11 June, no university had made a submission of changes in the level of chargeable fees for courses during the COVID-19 outbreak for the academic year 2019/20. It is possible that a higher education provider has submitted adjustments for an individual or sub-set of students on a course. However, these adjustments would have been processed on a student-by-student basis, and no information is recorded on the reason for a fee reduction being recorded.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support external candidates unable to sit GCSE exams that have been cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak but who must matriculate to sixth form education in 2020.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department anticipates that the vast majority of students will be able to use the calculated grades they receive in the summer to move on to their next steps.
There may be a relatively small number of students, including some private candidates, where there is not enough evidence to calculate a grade. The Department understands that 16 to 19 schools and colleges will consider a range of other evidence and information for these students to allow them to progress wherever possible.
Students who are unable to receive a calculated grade will also have the opportunity to sit exams in the autumn.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to respond to the email sent by the hon. Member for North Durham on 16 April 2020 on exam provisions for external candidates.
Answered by Nick Gibb
I can confirm that the letter, received into the Department on 16 April 2020, from the right hon. Member for North Durham has been responded to. A response was signed and sent via email to the right hon. Member on 10 June 2020.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what contingency planning his Department has undertaken on supporting teachers and students to learn remotely.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department is committed to ensuring that children can continue to learn at home in these very difficult circumstances. We recognise that many schools and colleges have already shared resources for children who are at home, and we are grateful for this.
The Department has issued guidance for schools which signposts to an initial list of free online resources identified by educational experts and teachers. Many other suppliers have also helpfully made their resources available for free. The guidance is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-online-education-resources.
The Department has also issued information, guidance and support to parents and carers of children who are learning from home at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-your-childrens-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
Leading state schools have collaborated to open The Oak National Academy, which was launched online on 20 April. This new initiative is led by 40 teachers who have assembled video lessons and resources for any teacher in the country to make use of if they wish to do so. 180 video lessons will be provided each week, across a broad range of subjects, for every year group from Reception through to Year 10. Additionally, the BBC has developed resources for families as part of a comprehensive new education package, which is now available on TV and online at BBC Bitesize.
The Government has also committed over £100 million to boost remote education. This includes, providing devices and internet access for those who need it most, ensuring every school that wants it has access to free, expert technical support to get set up on Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education, and offering peer support from schools and colleges leading the way with the use of education technology. Further information can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether schools will remain open during school holidays for the children of key workers during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Schools will remain closed until further notice, except for children of critical workers and vulnerable children. We will only re-open schools when the scientific advice indicates it is safe to do so, and will engage closely with the sector on our approach.
The Government encouraged schools to remain open in order to continue to look after critical workers’ children and vulnerable children throughout the Easter holidays and we are grateful to the many schools that did so.
No decision has been taken yet on arrangements for future school holidays.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to protect teachers from covid-19 infection whilst they look after the children of key workers during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nick Gibb
School leaders, teachers and support staff are central to the country’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19) and we thank them wholeheartedly for their support at this difficult time.
It is important to underline that schools remain safe places for children and staff. Fewer people making the journey to school and fewer people in educational settings will reduce the risks of spreading the virus.
The Government’s guidance on COVID-19 for educational settings is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19.
Advice on implementing social distancing in education and childcare settings can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-social-distancing-in-education-and-childcare-settings.
Public Health England’s advice about how to help stop the spread of the virus and stay safe is available here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19.
The Government is strongly advising people, including education staff, with serious underlying health conditions which put them at very high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to follow shielding measures in order to keep themselves safe. Staff in this position must not attend work. More advice on shielding can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to make levels of maternity pay under the Burgundy Book scheme available for teachers working in all types of schools.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department has no jurisdiction over maternity arrangements as these are covered by the Conditions of Service for School Teachers in England and Wales (known as “the Burgundy Book”) which is widely incorporated into teachers' contracts and covers areas such as maternity pay, sick pay and resignation periods.?This is a national agreement between trade unions and teacher organisations.
Asked by: Kevan Jones (Labour - North Durham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships in the UK shipbuilding industry.
Answered by Kemi Badenoch - President of the Board of Trade
Employers are at the heart of government’s reforms on apprenticeships, designing new high-quality apprenticeship standards that meet the needs of their industries.
There are 116 engineering and manufacturing standards available for employers in the shipbuilding industry to choose from, and a total of 487 standards available across a wide range of sectors from Business and Administration to Health and Science.
The Engineering Technician standard at Level 3 has been developed by employers, including employers in the defence industry such as BAE Systems, Babcock and the Royal Navy. This includes the following maritime defence pathways: Maritime Electrical Fitter, Maritime Mechanical Fitter, Maritime Fabricator and Maritime Pipeworker. More detail on the standard can be found on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s website at the following link: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/engineering-technician/.
Employers in the shipbuilding industry in England can use their apprenticeship levy funds to invest in these new high-quality apprenticeship standards, unlocking the productivity benefits associated with employing apprentices.
This financial year (2019-20) funding available for investment in apprenticeships in England is over £2.5 billion, double what we spent in 2010-11.
The National Apprenticeship Service is supporting employers in the shipbuilding industry to develop their apprenticeship programmes. Employers can find out more about apprenticeships at: https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/.