Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what financial resources the Government plans to allocate for the provision of basic English and mathematics in further education.

Improving English and maths is a top priority for Government.

40% of pupils do not get GCSE grades A* to C in English and maths by age 16. Worse still, 90% of those who don’t reach this basic standard by 16, don’t achieve it by age 19.

The Government is determined to ensure that all students who do not attain A*-C in English and maths GCSEs in KS4 are supported to continue to work towards these vital qualifications.

From August 2014 students who did not achieve A*-C in English and/or maths GCSE by age 16 must continue to work towards achieving these qualifications or an approved interim qualification as a ‘stepping stone’ towards GCSE as a condition of student places being funded.

With effect from August 2015, we will amend the funding condition, so full-time 16 to 19 students with prior attainment of grade D in English and/or maths will take GCSE, rather than any other qualification in these subjects.

For adults without a A*-C GCSE or a level 2 qualification in English and/or maths, the Government will fully fund English and maths provision up to and including level 2. English and maths are also embedded in our training programmes, such as apprenticeships and traineeships, for those who do not have a GCSE A*-C (Level 2 qualification). The skills funding letter for 2015-2016 emphasised the priority we attach to English and maths and spend has been protected through our allocations methodology.

To address the increase in post-16 students continuing their English and maths study, the Government is investing over £30m over two years (financial years 13/14 and 14/15) in a range of measures to improve the quantity of teachers and quality of teaching and learning practice. To date this investment has supported the recruitment of 680 new graduate teachers and the training of 3,250 existing maths and English teachers.