Asked by: Khalid Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the evidential basis is for the Government's policy that there should be one technical certificate offered by only one awarding organisation; and what assessment she has made of the risks for post-16 education of that policy.
Answered by Robert Halfon
Following the Wolf Report[1], the Government removed thousands of low-quality qualifications that were not valued by employers from accountability measures. However, as highlighted in the Technical Education Reform Case for Change[2], there is still a confusing array of qualifications available to learners and employers, who struggle to identify which are appropriate for their skills needs. Learners are also faced with variation within programmes and training methods vary widely.
The Independent Panel on Technical Education, chaired by Lord Sainsbury[3], was formed to advise the Government on measures that could improve technical education in England. Through considering best practice in the UK and internationally, and consultation with employers, providers and young people, the Independent Panel recommended moving away from the current awarding organisation market model, where qualifications that deliver similar but different outcomes compete with one another, and instead adopt a licensing approach[4].
The Government has accepted this recommendation based on the evidence set out in the Panel’s report[5] and through considering its own evidence base as set out in the Technical Education Reform Case for Change. In particular, the Panel identified evidence that suggested ‘the current system of awarding organisations which operate in many parts of the UK (but works differently in Scotland) has very serious drawbacks. The proliferation of competing qualifications in England and Northern Ireland undermines the labour market value of vocational qualifications, and prevents employers from engaging effectively in the construction of qualifications.[6]’ The Panel also examined international technical education systems, finding our market-based approach to awarding qualifications appeared to be unique.
Based on the evidence considered, the Panel believe that the simplicity and clarity offered by a licensing approach would bring many advantages to employers and individuals alike.
The Government is undertaking further work to fully understand the benefits and effectively mitigate any risks this new approach may pose to post-16 education.
[1] Wolf, A. (2011), Review of Vocational Education – The Wolf Report. (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/180504/DFE-00031-2011.pdf)
[2] Page 17, Department for Education (2016), Technical education reform: the case for change. (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/536048/Technical_Education_Reform_-_Case_For_Change.pdf)
[3] Department for Education (2016), Report of the Independent Panel on Technical Education.( https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/536046/Report_of_the_Independent_Panel_on_Technical_Education.pdf)
[4] Page 43, Department for Education (2016), Report of the Independent Panel on Technical Education
[5] Page 6, Department for Education (2016), Post-16 Skills Plan. (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/536043/Post-16_Skills_Plan.pdf)
[6] Page 42, Department for Education (2016), Report of the Independent Panel on Technical Education
Asked by: Khalid Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the role of independent training providers in post-16 years' education.
Answered by Robert Halfon
Independent providers deliver a wide range of post-16 education, including apprenticeship training, and the Government expects that to continue.
Asked by: Khalid Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish an updated timetable on the development of the Institute for Apprenticeships.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The Institute for Apprenticeships will come into being in April 2017. We expect to publish further information about how the Institute will operate in due course.
Asked by: Khalid Mahmood (Labour - Birmingham, Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage nurseries to teach early language skills.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards for the provision of learning, development and care for children from birth to five year olds that all registered early years providers such as maintained nurseries must follow. Within the EYFS, there are several areas of learning and development that shape the educational programme in the early years settings, one of which is communication and language.
The EYFS makes clear that children should be given opportunities to experience a rich language environment to help them develop the confidence and skills they need to express themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations. The EYFS requires practitioners to ensure all children have the opportunities to learn and develop a good standard of English language to ensure they are ready to benefit from the opportunities available to them when they begin primary school.
We have also worked closely with 4Children to develop the What to Expect, When? guide which illustrates to parents and early years providers the tools they can use to help their children’s language development from birth to five years old, and can be found at: http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2015/03/what-to-expect-when-a-parents-guide/
The Department for Education has also awarded £5.3 million to voluntary and community sector organisations of which a number are supporting staff to develop strong pedagogical approaches to language development and early literacy.