Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students entering (a) English and (b) Welsh universities in 2014 on a three-year course failed to complete their courses in 2017.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes statistics on students studying at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). As part of the publication ‘Performance Indicators for Higher Education’, HESA estimate learning outcomes for UK domiciled full-time students starting first degree[1] courses.
The table below shows the projected outcomes for those commencing their studies in 2014/15 at UK HEIs, by country of institution.
Projected learning outcomes of UK domiciled full-time first degree entrants
UK Higher Education Institutions
Academic year 2014/15
| Projected outcome (% of entrants)[2] | ||||
Country of institution | Degree | Neither award nor transfer | Other award | Transfer | Not known |
England | 80.7 | 10.3 | 3.7 | 5.1 | 0.2 |
Northern Ireland | 84.3 | 10.9 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 0.1 |
Scotland | 80.7 | 9.7 | 5 | 4.6 | 0.1 |
Wales | 80.4 | 10.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 0.1 |
Total UK | 80.8 | 10.3 | 3.8 | 5 | 0.2 |
Source: HESA UK Performance Indicators (Non-Continuation), Table T5
The table shows that even where a student does not complete their degree course, they may go on to achieve a different qualification or transfer to another higher education provider.
Further information on how projected outcomes are defined and calculated by HESA can be found in the UK Performance Indicators Non-Continuation Publication at: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/performance-indicators/non-continuation-summary.
Figures for entrants in the 2015/16 academic year will be published by HESA in March 2018.
[1] Whilst the majority of full-time first degree courses are three year courses, this group will also include some individuals enrolled on four year courses (for example integrated masters degrees).
[2] Percentages are rounded to one decimal place so may not sum exactly to 100.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what trigger she plans to put in place in the universal credit system to replace that of working tax credits to entitle children to free school meals.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
My department is working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, other government departments and other interested parties to establish criteria for determining entitlement to benefits-related free school meals as the roll-out of universal credit progresses.
No decision has been taken yet; our proposals on this matter will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students from disadvantaged backgrounds graduated from university in the last three years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
Information on the number of disadvantaged young people entering higher education, and non-continuation of young disadvantaged first degree students is published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England via the following link:
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/analysis/HEinEngland/students/social/.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of fire safety standards in university halls of residence.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Higher Education sector is taking this issue very seriously. The Department has had a very positive and comprehensive response from all of the 238 HEFCE-funded providers and designated Alternative Providers. All providers have been tested where necessary. Where issues have been identified providers have been quick to respond to protect the safety of students. Officials will continue to work with those in the Department for Communities and Local Government reviewing private student accommodation.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish the outcome of the consultation on the school funding formula.
Answered by Nick Gibb
We received over 25,000 responses to the consultation, which we are analysing in detail. We are grateful to all those who expressed their views on school funding and the proposed formula as part of this process. We will publish the response to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the value to the public purse of the sale of the student loans book.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The decision to start the sale process for part of the student loan book (set out in Written Statement HCWS458) is based on a robust and comprehensive assessment of the market which showed that it has a good prospect of achieving value for money.
As part of assessing value for money, the Government compares the value of keeping the student loan book and receiving uncertain and fluctuating repayments over time, and selling the rights to the remaining future repayments made on the student loan book and receiving a fixed sum of money for them now.
The sale process itself is also designed to achieve the best possible price for the taxpayer.
A further assessment will be made before the sale is completed (and before any further sales).
As required by the Sale of Student Loans Act 2008, the Government will provide a report to Parliament on the sale arrangements within three months of sale completion. As required by the Act this report will make reference to value for money.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that schools do not intentionally or unintentionally discriminate against teachers aged over 60 years who apply for jobs.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department’s guidance to schools makes clear that when recruiting staff, employers and governing bodies must be aware of their responsibilities set out in the Equality Act 2010. Schools must not discriminate directly or indirectly against any prospective employee on the basis of any protected characteristic (including age, race, sex or disability) in relation to appointments, pay and conditions.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the numbers of teachers aged over 60 taking up new posts within schools in each of the last five years.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Information on the number of teachers taking up new posts is not available. The following table provides the number and percentage of full-time equivalent teachers aged 60 and over in each year between 2011 and 2015.
| FTE Teachers aged 60 and over (thousands) | Percentage of all FTE Teachers aged 60 and over |
2011 | 10.8 | 2.5 |
2012 | 11.0 | 2.5 |
2013 | 11.5 | 2.6 |
2014 | 10.9 | 2.4 |
2015 | 10.5 | 2.3 |
Source: School Workforce Census |
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teachers over the age of 60 were employed in schools in 2015-16.
Answered by Nick Gibb
In November 2015, there were 10,500 equivalent teachers aged 60 and over employed in state funded schools in England. This represents 2.3 percent of all full-time equivalent teachers in England. These figures are derived from the November 2015 School Workforce Census.
Asked by: Liz McInnes (Labour - Heywood and Middleton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of the proposed sale of the student loans book on those paying off such loans.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The position of all graduates, including all those whose loans are in scope of the proposed sale, would not change as a result of a sale. Graduates are protected by statute.
The proposed sale would not alter the mechanisms and terms of repayment, and sold loans would continue to be serviced by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Student Loans Company (SLC) on the same basis as equivalent unsold loans. Investors would have no right to change any of the current loan arrangements or to contact people with student loans directly.