Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Hong Kong Watch report, Tuition Fees for BNO Visa Holders: The Case for Home Fee Status, and the impact of the cost of international fees on the ability of young British National (Overseas) (BNO) visa holders to attend university; and whether they will follow the Scottish Government in introducing home fees status for BNO visa holders after three years of residency in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
To qualify for home fee status in England, a person must have settled status or ’a recognised connection’ to the UK. A recognised connection includes persons who are covered by the EU Withdrawal Agreement, have long residence in this country or who have been granted international protection by the Home Office. There are also requirements associated with ordinary residence in the UK.
Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for home fee status and student finance once they have acquired settled status in the UK (usually after 5 years). Education is fully devolved, and administrations are able to make their own arrangements for accessing home fee status.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the reported increase in (1) poor mental health of students, and (2) the risk of teenage suicide, whether they plan to introduce a level 2 qualification in mental health awareness and suicide prevention as a mandatory part of the PSHE curriculum in schools and colleges for 11–18 year olds.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Health education became a statutory part of the school curriculum in September 2020 for all pupils in state-funded schools of compulsory school age.
The aim of teaching pupils about physical health and mental wellbeing is to give them the information they need to make good decisions about their own health and wellbeing, recognise issues in themselves and others and, when issues arise, seek support as early as possible from appropriate sources.
At primary school, pupils will learn to recognise and talk about their emotions, the benefits of exercise and simple self-care techniques. At secondary school, pupils will learn about common types of mental ill-health and how to recognise the early signs of mental wellbeing concerns. Schools can teach older pupils about suicide prevention in an age appropriate and sensitive way.
The department has brought forward the review of the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance, which will include working with a range of stakeholders and experts over the summer to consider the evidence for making suicide prevention a part of the statutory RSHE curriculum. As part of this, the department will work closely with Three Dads Walking, following their meeting with the Secretary of State for Education on 22 May. In addition, a workshop was held with teachers and roundtable meetings with a panel of experts and families have also taken place.
A full public consultation on an amended draft of the statutory guidance will take place in the autumn with a view to publishing the final version in 2024.
The statutory nature of the subjects means that all pupils will be taught this content during their time at school. The government does not have any plans to introduce qualifications linked to the content of the RSHE curriculum.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the difference between the educational attainment of boys and girls at Key Stage 1.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is committed to improving outcomes for all pupils no matter their gender and raising attainment for pupils is at the heart of this government’s agenda.
Overall, more girls met the expected standard than boys in reading and writing, while more boys reached the expected standard than girls in maths. This is a change from 2019 when more girls reached the expected standard than boys in all three subjects.
The department has introduced a Multiplication Tables Check, ensuring every nine-year-old pupil knows their times tables. Last June, 27% achieved full marks in the test and the average score was 20 correct answers out of 25. The Phonics Screening Check was also introduced in 2012 when 58% of pupils met the expected standard. By 2022, 87% of seven-year-olds met this standard, which is a significant predictor of later reading comprehension performance.
Internationally, England has performed well against international comparators. Pre COVID-19 pandemic England achieved its highest ever mathematics score in the most recent 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study international test for year 5 pupils. More recently, England has climbed to fourth place internationally for primary reading proficiency in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study results, which are regarded as the international benchmark for primary reading capability.
The Schools White Paper set out a long-term vision for a school system that helps every child to fulfil their potential by ensuring that they receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time. The department will drive attainment at key stage 1 by delivering a broad offer of reforms, as set out in the Schools White Paper, whilst also ensuring a focus on interventions that support reading, writing and maths, including through the support provided by English and Maths Hubs.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Security Minister on 1 November 2022 that Confucius Institutes “pose a threat to civil liberties in many universities in the United Kingdom”, what steps they have taken to close those Institutes.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government will continue to underline the importance that the UK places on defending human rights, and of speaking out and taking action where there are concerns. We need to evolve our approach to China into one of robust pragmatism, which is recognised and understood by our allies and partners. As my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, has previously said, China poses the greatest long-term security challenge to the UK economy and more widely, because of the behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party. The government is committed to doing more to adapt to its growing impact and we are constantly monitoring our position.
The government continuously assesses threats posed to the UK. As a matter of longstanding policy we are unable to release information regarding threat assessments on the grounds of National Security.
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will require and empower registered higher education (HE) providers in England to push back on freedom of speech related threats from overseas. It will also require the Office for Students (OfS) to monitor the overseas funding of registered HE providers and their constituent institutions, in order to assess the extent to which it presents a risk to freedom of speech and academic freedom in HE. This includes the reporting of educational or commercial partnerships, and therefore includes arrangements with Confucius Institutes. The Bill will allow the OfS to take appropriate action, including issuing penalties, if there is evidence that an HE provider has breached its freedom of speech duties.
Like all similar bodies, Confucius Institutes should operate transparently and with a full commitment to our values of openness and freedom of expression. Universities have a responsibility to ensure that any partnership with a Confucius Institute is managed appropriately, and the right due diligence is in place. The department would encourage any providers with concerns to contact the government.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they assess that the threat to freedom and democracy in the UK posed by the government of China is increasing; if so, whether they believe that Confucius Institutes are part of such a threat; and if not, why they have said that they want to reduce influence of Confucius Institutes.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government will continue to underline the importance that the UK places on defending human rights, and of speaking out and taking action where there are concerns. We need to evolve our approach to China into one of robust pragmatism, which is recognised and understood by our allies and partners. As my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, has previously said, China poses the greatest long-term security challenge to the UK economy and more widely, because of the behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party. The government is committed to doing more to adapt to its growing impact and we are constantly monitoring our position.
The government continuously assesses threats posed to the UK. As a matter of longstanding policy we are unable to release information regarding threat assessments on the grounds of National Security.
The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will require and empower registered higher education (HE) providers in England to push back on freedom of speech related threats from overseas. It will also require the Office for Students (OfS) to monitor the overseas funding of registered HE providers and their constituent institutions, in order to assess the extent to which it presents a risk to freedom of speech and academic freedom in HE. This includes the reporting of educational or commercial partnerships, and therefore includes arrangements with Confucius Institutes. The Bill will allow the OfS to take appropriate action, including issuing penalties, if there is evidence that an HE provider has breached its freedom of speech duties.
Like all similar bodies, Confucius Institutes should operate transparently and with a full commitment to our values of openness and freedom of expression. Universities have a responsibility to ensure that any partnership with a Confucius Institute is managed appropriately, and the right due diligence is in place. The department would encourage any providers with concerns to contact the government.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to adopt the Council of Europe's recommendation to "include the history of Roma and Travellers in school curricula and teaching materials", published in their list of recommendations on 1 July 2020; and what plans they have to make the teaching mandatory and educate those unaware of the genocide of the Roma population in the Holocaust.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The history curriculum gives teachers and schools the freedom to use specific examples from history to teach pupils about the history of Britain and the wider world.
Gypsy, Roma and Travellers’ history can already be taught as part of schools offering a broad and balanced curriculum. Resources are available from experts in the communities themselves and bodies such as the Historical Association.
As part of Holocaust education, which is the only compulsory topic in the history curriculum at key stage 3, a wide array of resources are available to help teachers explain the persecution by the Nazis of different groups of people. The Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz programme and the knowledge and training provided by University College London’s Centre for Holocaust Education include information and resources to support an understanding of the Holocaust and the Nazis’ persecution of other non-Jewish groups, including the genocide of the Roma.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use in schools, colleges and universities of Chinese-made surveillance cameras made by companies which are currently subject to US sanctions and investment bans.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Educational settings including schools, colleges and universities have delegated budget responsibility and can procure surveillance, security and CCTV systems autonomously.
For the procurement, sourcing and installation of surveillance, security and CCTV systems, the Department for Education will recommend and default to specification that includes as a minimum High Definition 1080P systems, compliant to BS EN 50132-7:2012 or BS EN 62676-4:2015.
The Department for Education does not mandate (or exclude) a country of origin for products and have made no assessments on the use of any specific products or vendors. Any decision regarding specific exclusion would be made at a broader cross-government level, with the Department for Education following that advice and communicating to schools via standard guidance and regular communications. In January, the government announced the provision of new guidance and support for UK public sector bodies, which will include schools, to exclude suppliers where there is sufficient evidence of human rights violations in any of their supply chains.
The Department for Education utilises existing guidance provided via the National Cyber Security Centre and will reiterate this to the Education sector via our scheduled communications to ensure schools remain aware and vigilant. More information can be found here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/consumers-urged-secure-internet-connected-cameras and here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/connected-places-security-principles/about-the-principles.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the partnership between the University of the West of England Bristol and the Chinese company NeuSoft, given the latter’s work on a facial recognition surveillance system.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
As autonomous bodies, decisions regarding partnerships lie with individual higher education providers. We encourage the sector to collaborate with international partners and universities must be security minded in their approach in order to safeguard our core values. University due diligence processes should consider reputational, ethical and security risks.
At the request of my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Higher and Further Education, Universities UK, on behalf of the sector and with government support, published guidelines in October 2020 to help universities tackle security risks related to international collaboration.
We continuously strengthen protective measures and expect universities to do the same.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what assessment they have made of the cost for universities to charter flights to ensure that students from China are able to return for in-person studies in the UK, and (2) what details it holds on the universities which have chartered these flights.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The government has provided no financial support to higher education providers for the purpose of chartering flights for international higher education students from China to travel to the UK, for the academic year 2021/22.
The government has received applications from Queen’s University Belfast, as well as three consortia of higher education providers seeking approvals for charter flights for Chinese students while scheduled direct flights remain suspended between the UK and mainland China. The three consortia comprise 16, 24, and 55 named higher education providers respectively. The airlines involved have chartered the planes to travel companies, which sell tickets to the students. The airlines and travel agencies take the financial risk.
The government is proud that so many international students choose to study here and is looking forward to safely welcoming them in the new academic year. We have worked closely with the sector to ensure that international students will be appropriately supported and welcomed, including with quarantine requirements. Universities UK International has published bespoke self-isolation guidance for higher education providers to help them prepare for the arrival of students.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have provided any financial support to universities which have chartered flights to the UK to ensure that students from China are able to return for in-person studies in the UK.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The government has provided no financial support to higher education providers for the purpose of chartering flights for international higher education students from China to travel to the UK, for the academic year 2021/22.
The government has received applications from Queen’s University Belfast, as well as three consortia of higher education providers seeking approvals for charter flights for Chinese students while scheduled direct flights remain suspended between the UK and mainland China. The three consortia comprise 16, 24, and 55 named higher education providers respectively. The airlines involved have chartered the planes to travel companies, which sell tickets to the students. The airlines and travel agencies take the financial risk.
The government is proud that so many international students choose to study here and is looking forward to safely welcoming them in the new academic year. We have worked closely with the sector to ensure that international students will be appropriately supported and welcomed, including with quarantine requirements. Universities UK International has published bespoke self-isolation guidance for higher education providers to help them prepare for the arrival of students.