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1545432

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Higher Education: Misrepresentation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking to help stop the mis-selling of university courses to young people.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	95782
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2022 answer text <p>Universities are responsible for their own advertising. The Competition and Markets Authority has produced guidance to the sector on their responsibilities under consumer protection law, including what material information about courses they should provide prospective students. A new partnership, announced on 24 November, between the higher education (HE) regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), and National Trading Standards includes tackling misleading precontract information that students rely on when choosing their course. We are also working with the sector to agree ways in which they might incorporate key pieces of data into their course advertising, so that students better understand what outcomes they might expect from courses at the point at which courses are being sold to them.</p><p>The department is clear that universities should be transparent about the content of their courses and the likely outcomes that students can expect from them. Discover Uni is a tool, which is owned and operated by the four UK HE funding and regulatory bodies. It is the official, authoritative source of information and guidance to HE courses in the UK and is designed to help prospective students make the right choices about what and where to study, by allowing users to search for and compare information and data for individual undergraduate courses across the UK. The OfS sets the expectation that HE providers will display a link to the Discover Uni website on their course website pages to help prospective students make informed decisions about the courses they sign-up to.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon grouped question UIN 95784 question first answered 02/12/2022 10:03:21 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1545434

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Higher Education: Misrepresentation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to regulate how universities (a) advertise and (b) sell their university courses to prevent mis-selling to students.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	95784
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2022 answer text <p>Universities are responsible for their own advertising. The Competition and Markets Authority has produced guidance to the sector on their responsibilities under consumer protection law, including what material information about courses they should provide prospective students. A new partnership, announced on 24 November, between the higher education (HE) regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), and National Trading Standards includes tackling misleading precontract information that students rely on when choosing their course. We are also working with the sector to agree ways in which they might incorporate key pieces of data into their course advertising, so that students better understand what outcomes they might expect from courses at the point at which courses are being sold to them.</p><p>The department is clear that universities should be transparent about the content of their courses and the likely outcomes that students can expect from them. Discover Uni is a tool, which is owned and operated by the four UK HE funding and regulatory bodies. It is the official, authoritative source of information and guidance to HE courses in the UK and is designed to help prospective students make the right choices about what and where to study, by allowing users to search for and compare information and data for individual undergraduate courses across the UK. The OfS sets the expectation that HE providers will display a link to the Discover Uni website on their course website pages to help prospective students make informed decisions about the courses they sign-up to.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon grouped question UIN 95782 question first answered 02/12/2022 10:03:21 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1539265

	registered interest
	date	03/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Apprentices: Minimum Wage
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has held discussions with the National Union of Apprenticeships on raising the apprentice minimum wage to the national living wage in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	78646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2022 answer text <p>The department is committed to supporting more people into high-quality apprenticeships. We want to ensure that apprentice minimum pay rates support learners of all ages and backgrounds to enter and complete apprenticeships.</p><p>The independent Low Pay Commission advises the government on minimum pay rates, including the apprentice national minimum wage rate. Its recommendations follow public consultation, which stakeholders are able to feed into.</p><p>The Low Pay Commission will shortly set out its recommendations on minimum pay rates from April 2023.</p><p>Most employers pay their apprentices more than the minimum. The Apprenticeship Evaluation Learner Survey 2021 data shows that the median basic hourly pay for apprentices in 2021 was £8.23 for Intermediate (Level 2) and £9.09 for Advanced (Level 3) apprentices, £12.51 for Level 4 and 5 apprentices and £14.48 for Level 6 and 7 apprentices.</p><p>The department continues to offer bursaries and additional payments to support eligible individuals, such as 16 to 24-year-old care-leavers, into apprenticeships.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 11/11/2022 12:57:43 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1541561

	registered interest
	date	11/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to increase student finance in line with inflation in the 2023-24 academic year.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	84811
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>The government is reviewing options for uprating maximum loans and grants for the 2023/24 academic year and an announcement will be made in due course.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 21/11/2022 14:06:27 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1545433

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Higher Education: Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure young people are supported in choosing the type of undergraduate qualification and courses suitable to their needs.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	95783
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2022 answer text <p>The department is funding careers in schools and colleges through the Careers and Enterprise Company with up to £30.6 million during the financial year 2022/23, to support them to implement the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Careers Guidance. The Gatsby Benchmarks provide a framework for the delivery of high-quality careers guidance. This includes encounters with further and higher education to help all pupils understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them.</p><p>Young people aged 13 and above can also access direct careers advice through the National Careers Service via a dedicated helpline and webchat, as well as through a national website. The government is also delivering the ‘Get the Jump’ campaign, designed to promote the full range of post-16 and post-18 education and training opportunities available to young people.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 02/12/2022 10:27:17 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1545435

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help students make sustainable financial decisions when at university.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	95785
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2022 answer text <p>The department has worked with the Office for Students (OfS) and Student Minds to provide Student Space, a mental health and wellbeing online platform designed to bridge any gaps in support for students, which will work alongside existing services. Student Space provides advice and information on student finances, including advice on how to budget whilst at university. This service can be found here: <a href="https://studentspace.org.uk/wellbeing/how-to-make-a-student-budget" target="_blank">https://studentspace.org.uk/wellbeing/how-to-make-a-student-budget</a>.</p><p>Student Space is funded with up to £3.6 million by the OfS and the HE Funding Council Wales. It has now received a funding commitment of £262,500 annually for three years to extend this provision of online mental health and wellbeing support to all students in England and Wales until 2026.</p><p>This online platform is complemented by a wide range of budgeting advice available directly from Higher Education (HE) providers, as well as other sources online.</p><p>The department has also made £261 million of student premium funding available this academic year to support disadvantaged HE students who need additional help. The department has worked with the OfS to ensure universities support students in hardship using both hardship funds and drawing on the student premium.</p><p>Living costs support has also been increased by 2.3% for maximum loans and grants for living and other costs for the current academic year, 2022/23. Students who have been awarded a loan for living costs for the 2022/23 academic year that is lower than the maximum, and whose household income for the tax year 2022/23 has dropped by at least 15% compared to the income provided for their original assessment, can apply for their entitlement to be reassessed.</p><p>The government is reviewing options for uprating maximum loans and grants for the 2023/24 academic year and an announcement will follow shortly.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 02/12/2022 10:41:50 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1545437

	registered interest
	date	24/11/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Higher Education: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure university league table competition works in the best interests of students.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	95786
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/12/2022 answer text <p>The department does not have a role in the compiling of university league tables. They are the responsibility of the newspapers that compile and publish them.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 02/12/2022 10:05:57 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1549872

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	University of Huddersfield: Pay and Working Conditions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with representatives of the University of Huddersfield on (a) staff pay and (b) working conditions in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	106322
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2022 answer text <p>Whilst the department has not met specifically with the University of Huddersfield, we have regular meetings with representatives of trade unions that have members in the higher education sector, including the University and College Union, as well as with Universities UK and the Universities and Colleges Employers Association.</p><p>These discussions include matters related to industrial disputes, such as use of fixed-term and casual contracts, the health of the Universities Superannuation Scheme pension fund and data on impacts of strikes on students and their learning, but not the industrial disputes themselves.</p><p>Universities are autonomous and responsible for the pay and pension provision of their staff.  While the government plays no role in such disputes, we hope all parties can reach an agreement that delivers good value for students, staff and the universities, so that industrial action can be avoided.</p><p>The department hopes that all sides can work together so that students do not suffer with further learning loss. Any students worried about the impact of strikes on their education are encouraged to raise this with their university.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 19/12/2022 13:03:31 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1608681

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Qualifications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the course completion rate is for people taking full qualifications at (a) NVQ Level 2, (b) NVQ Level 3, (c) T-Level in education and early years, (d) early years apprenticeships, (e) early childhood degree with practitioner competencies and (f) early years Initial Teacher Training.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	176565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2023 answer text <p>In the 2021/22 academic year, the adult (19+) education and training achievement rate for learning at National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 was 83.4%, and the adult (19+) education and training achievement rate for learning at NVQ Level 3 was 75.7%.</p><p>The apprenticeship achievement rate for the Early Years Educator apprenticeship was 53.3%, and the Early Years Practitioner was 42.7% in the 2021/22 academic year. Further information is available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/4a09cee3-e95c-43e2-36e4-08db30eaf34e" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/4a09cee3-e95c-43e2-36e4-08db30eaf34e</a>. The early years lead practitioner apprenticeship was introduced in August 2021 and typically takes 24 months to complete, which means achievement rate data is not currently available.</p><p>The department’s provisional T Level results publication shows data on the outcomes achieved by T Level students in the 2021/22 academic year and is available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/provisional-t-level-results/2021-22" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/provisional-t-level-results/2021-22</a>. It shows that 450 students on the Education and Childcare T Level subject area received a ‘Pass’ or above, leading to a pass rate of 93.4% for those who took the assessment. Whilst the 2020 T Level Action Plan shows that approximately 650 initially started an Education and Childcare T Level in September 2020, some students moved to different courses after enrolment. This is a reflection of the novel nature of T Levels and of the impact of the pandemic on students’ learning at that time.</p><p>T Levels are being rolled out in a phased approach to ensure high quality. The number of providers will increase year on year and the department expects student numbers to grow significantly over the next few years. In September 2022, over 2,000 students started a T Level in Education and Childcare. While the majority are expected to study the Early Years occupational specialism, students do not need to make their final decision until the end of their first year of learning.</p><p>For early years initial teacher training, in the 2020/21 academic year, there were 527 final year postgraduate early years teacher trainees, of which 463 (88%) were awarded early years status. Further information is available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/initial-teacher-training-performance-profiles" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/initial-teacher-training-performance-profiles</a>.</p><p>The department continues to explore how to best support the early years sector to recruit and retain the staff it needs. We will work closely with the sector to develop plans to grow and support the workforce. The department will share further information in due course.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 21/04/2023 12:29:10 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1608682

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2023
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Qualifications
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people are training for a full and relevant qualification in early years and childcare and are due to qualify by September 2025.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	176566
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2023 answer text <p>During the 2021/22 academic year (the latest year of available data) there were 52,650 students studying Early Years and childcare qualifications.</p><p>This was comprised of 48,400 learners studying qualifications at English further education (FE) providers and 4,250 full-person-equivalent entrants to Early Years subject areas at English higher education (HE) providers</p><p>For HE, Early Years subjects were defined by the ‘Higher Education Classification of Subject’ (HECOS) codes ‘100457 early childhood studies’, ‘100463 early years education’ and ‘100510 early years teaching’, or any course aim leading to Early Years Teacher Status, such as H12, I12 and I73. For FE, Early Years qualifications were defined as those on the ‘Early Years qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom’ list, which is published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualifications-achieved-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualifications-achieved-in-england</a>.</p><p>The department does not forecast the number of learners predicted to achieve these qualifications by September 2025.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 20/04/2023 16:12:35 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman