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730994

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2017
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how many Muslim schools, including madrassas, there are in England; how they monitor teaching in those schools; and whether they intend to legislate to require all teaching in such schools to be conducted in English.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL17
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2017 answer text <p>In England there are 27 publicly-funded schools (i.e. local authority maintained schools and academies, including free schools) having a designated religious character as Muslim; and 148 independent schools registered as having a religious ethos of Muslim or Islam, or having a designated religious character of Muslim or Islam (or both)<strong><em>. </em></strong> The Department for Education does not regulate madrassahs or other out-of-school education settings and does not hold a complete record their numbers.</p><p>The quality of teaching in Muslim schools in England is inspected by Ofsted or one of the independent inspectorates approved by the Secretary of State.</p><p>All publicly funded schools must teach English to pupils up to the age of 16. English is both a subject in its own right and the medium for teaching in the vast majority of circumstances. The statutory independent school standards require that pupils acquire speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy skills. While independent schools are not required to teach in the medium of English, the standards require that where they do not, lessons in written and spoken English are provided.</p><p>The Department has no plans to legislate further to require schools to teach in the medium of English. The Department launched a call for evidence setting out proposals for a new system for regulating out-of-school education settings providing intensive education, but this did not suggest that they should be required to teach in English.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 28/06/2017 16:44:35 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1175182

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Out-of-school Education: Islam
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 16 January (HL157), whether they assess what is being taught in madrasas in the UK; if so, how; and what plans they have to introduce inspections for such schools.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>As stated in my answer of 16 January, religious settings such as madrasas would generally be considered an out-of-school setting. As a large and diverse sector these settings are not captured by a single dedicated regulatory framework; and as such, are not subject to assessment or inspection by the department or Ofsted.</p><p>There are currently a number of legal powers in place to protect children attending these settings – for example, child protection legislation, health and safety and fire safety law – and there are no plans by the department, at this time, to introduce a new system of regulation or inspection of these settings.</p><p>However, the department is taking forward a package of measures aimed at enhancing the safeguarding of children in this sector. This includes a £3 million pilot scheme outlined in my previous response, which will be used to inform the development of best practice on how existing legal powers, held by local authorities and other agencies, can best be used to identify and intervene in out-of-school settings of concern. This work started in summer 2018 and is due to conclude in March 2020.</p><p>Alongside this, we have also been developing a voluntary code of practice for out-of-school setting providers to support them to understand what they need to do to run a safe setting. There is accompanying guidance for parents and carers to help them make more informed choices when considering out-of-school settings for their children, as well as understanding the steps they can take where they have concerns. We consulted on these documents last year and will respond and publish the final guidance in due course. The consultation can be found here: <a href="https://consult.education.gov.uk/regulatory-framework-unit/out-of-school-settings-voluntary-safeguarding-code/" target="_blank">https://consult.education.gov.uk/regulatory-framework-unit/out-of-school-settings-voluntary-safeguarding-code/</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 04/02/2020 16:12:24 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton attachment 1 file name HL646_draft_guidance.pdf title HL646_guidance_OSS
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1346570

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Batley Grammar School: Harassment
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment have they made as to when the Batley Grammar School teacher who has been receiving threats to his life will be able to return to normal (1) teaching duties, and (2) family life.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL1973
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2021 answer text <p>The department has continued to work closely with Batley Multi Academy Trust, the local authority and the Police to ensure that the trust is fully supported in implementing any necessary safety measures for the individual staff member.</p><p>The department does not hold specific information on individual staff members, as this is deemed personal information and is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 26/07/2021 15:34:48 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

924180

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Migrant Workers
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reported difficulties experienced by the London Diocesan Board for Schools in obtaining restricted certificates of sponsorship for teacher visas; and of the impact this may have on teacher recruitment in London.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL8659
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2018 answer text <p>The government recognises the important contribution that international teachers, and other highly skilled migrants, make to the UK and we keep all of our immigration routes under review.</p><p> </p><p>On 15 June, the government announced changes to the allocation of places within the Tier 2 (General) cap of 20,700 migrants. The change will be implemented through amended immigration rules coming into effect on 6 July 2018. It will exempt all doctors and nurses needed in the UK from the cap. This change, which is intended to be temporary, alleviates pressure on the NHS. It also creates extra space within the cap for other sectors of the economy, including international teachers.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this announcement, the government will be asking the independent Migration Advisory Committee to review the full composition of the Shortage Occupation List.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 27/06/2018 14:11:27 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1452008

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities: Remote Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the savings to universities of delivering courses online and re-using digital teaching materials; and what plans they have, if any, to require universities to pass these savings on to students.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL7021
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2022 answer text <p>The former Secretary of State for Education commissioned Sir Michael Barber, in his former capacity as chair of the Office for Students (OfS), to lead a review following the rapid shift toward digital teaching and learning in higher education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>The conclusion of the review set out a series of recommendations for higher education providers outlining what a successful approach to building digital skills looks like, with practical suggestions for action. Sir Michael Barber’s report can be read here: <a href="https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/gravity-assist-propelling-higher-education-towards-a-brighter-future/" target="_blank">https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/gravity-assist-propelling-higher-education-towards-a-brighter-future/</a>.</p><p>Crucially, Sir Michael Barber’s review of digital teaching and learning found that universities had invested significantly in developing their digital teaching and learning offer, and did not find evidence that online tuition is less expensive to deliver than face-to-face provision.</p><p>The government has removed all restrictions on in-person teaching, meaning providers are able to offer the full face-to-face teaching experience that they were offering before the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual learning is a fantastic innovation that can be used to complement and enhance a student’s learning experience, not detract from it, but it should not be used as a cost-cutting exercise.</p><p>The OfS has recently launched a review of blended learning. The review will examine blended methods of course delivery and consider which approaches represent high-quality teaching and learning, as well as which approaches fall short of the OfS' regulatory requirements.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 30/03/2022 15:51:42 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

901443

	registered interest
	date	10/05/2018
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Training
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average A-level achievement of those entering Bachelor of Education degree courses.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL7769
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2018 answer text <p>The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes statistics on students studying at UK higher education institutions (HEIs).</p><p> </p><p>The following table, which is attached, is taken from HESA’s publication ‘UK Performance Indicators 2016/17: Widening participation’. It shows the distribution of entry qualifications for UK domiciled young entrants to full-time first degrees in education subjects and compares this with the distribution across all subjects.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 22/05/2018 16:05:42 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie attachment 1 file name HL 7769 - Table WP2.doc title Table_WP2
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1169301

	registered interest
	date	07/01/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Inspections
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to remove the restriction on Ofsted's inspection of schools which teach for less than 18 hours a week.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL157
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>Settings that only have pupils attending for less than 18 hours per week are not considered full time and are therefore not required to register as schools. As they are not registered as schools, such settings are not subject to inspection. In March 2018, the department published guidance setting out how the government, Ofsted and local authorities can work collaboratively to help ensure children attending unregistered schools and out-of-school settings are safe and are receiving a suitable education. This guidance is attached and can be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-school-registration" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-school-registration</a>.</p><p>Part-time settings should be considered to be out-of-school settings, which the department currently defines as “any institution providing tuition, training, instruction or activities to children in England, without their parents’ or carers supervision, that is not a school, college, 16-19 academy or provider caring for children under 8 years old, which is registered with Ofsted or a childcare agency.” This covers a large, broad and diverse sector, ranging from: settings offering part-time or supplementary education to support mainstream or home education and religious settings offering education in their own faith, to extra-curricular clubs and activities, such as dance classes, sports tuition, as well as uniformed youth organisations.</p><p>In 2015, the government consulted on proposals to introduce a new system regulation of the sector. However, in 2018 following careful consideration of the large number of wide ranging views and representations received, the government decided not to pursue the model proposed, but to instead further develop the evidence base for a national approach, including future legislation where gaps in existing powers might be identified. In connection with this, the government is currently taking forward a package of measures aimed at enhancing the safeguarding of children in this sector, including the provision of £3 million of targeted funding, in 16 local authorities, to test different approaches to multi-agency working. This work will be used to inform best practice on how existing legal powers, held by local authorities and other agencies, such as the Police, Ofsted and the Charity Commission can best be used to intervene in settings of concern and to help inform the need for any further legislation.</p><p>Some part-time settings provide alternative provision which is commissioned by a school or local authority. Ofsted can look at such a part-time setting as part of an inspection of the commissioner. In all cases (whether commissioning a place for a child in care or any other child), the local authority or school acting as the alternative provision commissioner should assure themselves that the setting is registered where applicable and that the provision is delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 16/01/2020 15:22:09 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton attachment 1 file name HL157_Independent_school_registration_guidance.pdf title HL157_Guidance
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1439505

	registered interest
	date	09/03/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Higher Education: Fees and Charges
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to reduce fees for (1) university students whose courses will be predominantly online, and (2) former university students whose courses were moved online, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL6812
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2022 answer text <p>The unprecedented and unique nature of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated changes to the way higher education (HE) providers delivered their teaching. However, online learning should only be offered to enhance the student experience, not to detract from it, and it should not be used as a cost-cutting measure.</p><p>The department has written to all English HE providers, making clear that we expect them to offer a high-quality face-to-face student experience. This year, my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Higher and Further Education, has spoken with leaders of a number of universities regarding concerns about their face-to-face teaching provision, to ensure they are offering students the amount of in-person teaching they expect.</p><p>As autonomous institutions, it is for HE providers to determine their own provision, including their learning approach, taking account of any government guidance. HE providers have delivered new and innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Some providers continue to use some of these approaches alongside in-person provision. However, online learning should only be offered to enhance the student experience, not to detract from it, and it should not be used as a cost-cutting measure.</p><p>The Office for Students is clear that all HE providers must comply with registration conditions relating to quality and standards regardless of whether a provider is delivering its courses through in-person teaching, remote online learning, or a combination of both. It will act where this is not the case, and may impose sanctions if there has been a breach of registration conditions.</p><p>If students and former students have concerns about the delivery of their university courses, they should first follow their university’s internal complaints procedure. If their concerns remain unresolved, students in England and Wales can ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education to consider their complaint. Recommendations can include practical remedies as well as financial compensation, where that is deemed appropriate.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 23/03/2022 17:53:27 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1348906

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Islam: Curriculum
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, subject to a parental right to withdraw children from particular lessons, to require depictions of the Prophet Mohammed to be shown to pupils and discussed as part of Religious Studies in the school curriculum; and if they have no such plans, why not.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL2235
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2021 answer text <p>The department does not specify what a religious education (RE) curriculum should consist of, or how lessons on particular religions or non-religious beliefs should be taught. This is a matter for the school and the local authority’s Agreed Syllabus Conference, depending on whether a school is maintained or an academy, and whether the school has a religious designation or not. The details of these arrangements can be found in department guidance found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/religious-education-guidance-in-english-schools-non-statutory-guidance-2010" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/religious-education-guidance-in-english-schools-non-statutory-guidance-2010</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/re-and-collective-worship-in-academies-and-free-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/re-and-collective-worship-in-academies-and-free-schools</a>.</p><p>There are therefore no plans for the department to require the depictions of the Prophet Mohammed to be shown to pupils and discussed as part of RE.</p><p>Schools are free to include a full range of issues, ideas, and materials in their curriculum, including where they are challenging or controversial, subject to their obligations to ensure political balance. They must balance this with the need to promote respect and tolerance between people of different faiths and beliefs, including in deciding which materials to use in the classroom.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 28/07/2021 15:55:49 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1197810

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children: Philosophy and Religion
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether schools have a duty to respect the wishes of parents who want to raise their children in accordance with their own religious and philosophical convictions.
	tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
	uin	HL4788
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/06/2020 answer text <p>We are making Relationships Education compulsory for primary school-aged pupils, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) compulsory for secondary school-aged pupils and Health Education compulsory for pupils in all state-funded schools, from September 2020.</p><p>These subjects are designed to give pupils the knowledge they need to lead happy, safe and healthy lives and to foster respect for other people and for difference. Through these subjects, children will be taught about the importance of respectful relationships and the different types of relationships that exist. This can be done in a way that respects everyone’s views.</p><p>The statutory guidance states that all pupils should receive teaching on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) relationships during their school years, and that secondary schools should include LGBT content in their teaching. Primary schools are encouraged and enabled, when teaching about different types of family, to include families with same sex parents.</p><p>In all schools, the religious background of all pupils must be taken into account when planning teaching, so that topics included in the statutory guidance are handled appropriately. Schools must ensure they comply with the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010. The statutory guidance is attached and can be accessed via the following link: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/805781/Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/805781/Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education.pdf</a>.</p><p>Schools are also required to consult with parents when developing and reviewing their policies for Relationships Education (primary) and RSE (secondary), which will inform schools’ decisions on when and how certain content is covered. Schools should ensure that parents know what will be taught and when, and clearly communicate the fact that parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge grouped question UIN HL4789 HL4790 question first answered 04/06/2020 14:22:26 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge attachment 1 file name HL4788_HL4789_HL4790_RSE_guidance.pdf title HL4788_HL4789_HL4790_PDF
	tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch