Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the progress made by each English education authority in the implementation of the Baker Clause; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anne Milton
The department is reviewing the implementation of the ‘Baker Clause’ which requires all maintained schools and academies in England to allow apprenticeship and technical education providers to talk to pupils about a range of education and training options.
Since the duty came into force in January, we have been raising awareness with all schools and making it clear what they must do to comply fully with the new requirements.
We have published new statutory guidance which explains in detail what schools are required to do. We have promoted the statutory guidance to school governors, head teachers and careers leaders through a range of channels including regular newsletters and circulars. The Careers & Enterprise Company held a series of regional roadshows to inform schools about the government’s careers strategy and included information about the new duty. We also recently published an article in which the importance of this new legislation to schools is outlined and this can be accessed on the GOV.UK website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/skills-minister-highlights-new-provider-access-law-for-schools.
Officials are reviewing the legislation, to look at how well it has worked during the first two terms of operation and identify any issues with compliance.
Any changes found to be necessary to improve the implementation of the law will be implemented from the beginning of the 2018/19 academic year.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to (a) promote and (b) support political education in schools; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Political education is an essential part of a broad and balanced education that prepares young people for adult life. Citizenship education is in the statutory national curriculum at Key Stages 3 and 4. The programmes of study are designed to prepare pupils to play a full and active part in society, and are organised around core knowledge about democracy, Government, and how laws are made and upheld. Citizenship education also equips pupils with the skills and knowledge to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, debate and make reasoned arguments. Schools can also teach politics as part of their wider school curriculum if they choose to do so.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) freedom of speech and (b) open debate in universities; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
Free speech within the law is an essential precondition of thriving universities. Free speech underpins diversity of thought, allows students to develop the ability to think critically, and exposes them to new ideas. I held a free speech summit on 3 May 2018. At the summit, university leaders and regulators agreed to develop a single piece of guidance to help the higher education sector promote free speech and open debate. The guidance is expected to be published in the autumn.