Widening participation to Higher Education (HE) is a priority for this government. Everyone with the capability to succeed in HE should have the opportunity to benefit from a university education, regardless of background or where they grew up. Recent UCAS data shows that whilst progress has been made, with record rates of disadvantaged students going to university, there is still a long way to go.<\/p>
The department publishes data on HE destinations. This shows that Key Stage 5 students from independent schools were around seven times more likely than Key Stage 5 students from non-selective state-funded mainstream schools to have an Oxford or Cambridge HE destination in 2016/17. This is the same as the Sutton Trust report. The figures also show that in over a third of mainstream schools and colleges, no students had an Oxford or Cambridge HE destination. These statistics consider students who attended these universities in the year after completing 16 to 18 study (entering A levels or other level 3 qualifications). They do not include students who entered Oxford or Cambridge following a gap year, or account for differences in the likelihood of completing level 3 qualifications.<\/p>
In our first guidance to the Office for Students (OfS), we asked them to encourage providers, particularly the most selective, to make further progress in ensuring that disadvantaged and under-represented students can access, participate and succeed in HE. The department now requires providers to publish application, offer and acceptance rates by gender, ethnicity and social background. We expect the OfS to shine a light on those not stepping up, and want to see it using the full range of levers at their disposal if necessary.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "201627"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-17T15:54:20.08Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universities: Admissions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Sutton Trust's report of 7 December 2018, Access to Advantage, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of that report's finding that independent school pupils are seven times more likely to gain a place at Oxford and Cambridge than non-selective state school pupils.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4243", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dan Jarvis"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Barnsley Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dan Jarvis"} ], "uin" : "201626"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023901", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023901/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Widening participation to Higher Education (HE) is a priority for this government. Everyone with the capability to succeed in HE should have the opportunity to benefit from a university education, regardless of background or where they grew up. Recent UCAS data shows that whilst progress has been made, with record rates of disadvantaged students going to university, there is still a long way to go.<\/p>
The department publishes data on HE destinations. This shows that Key Stage 5 students from independent schools were around seven times more likely than Key Stage 5 students from non-selective state-funded mainstream schools to have an Oxford or Cambridge HE destination in 2016/17. This is the same as the Sutton Trust report. The figures also show that in over a third of mainstream schools and colleges, no students had an Oxford or Cambridge HE destination. These statistics consider students who attended these universities in the year after completing 16 to 18 study (entering A levels or other level 3 qualifications). They do not include students who entered Oxford or Cambridge following a gap year, or account for differences in the likelihood of completing level 3 qualifications.<\/p>
In our first guidance to the Office for Students (OfS), we asked them to encourage providers, particularly the most selective, to make further progress in ensuring that disadvantaged and under-represented students can access, participate and succeed in HE. The department now requires providers to publish application, offer and acceptance rates by gender, ethnicity and social background. We expect the OfS to shine a light on those not stepping up, and want to see it using the full range of levers at their disposal if necessary.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "201626"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-17T15:54:20.143Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universities: Admissions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Sutton Trust's report of 7 December 2018 entitled Access to Advantage, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of that report's finding that eight schools were responsible for 75 per cent of Oxbridge admissions.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4243", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dan Jarvis"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Barnsley Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dan Jarvis"} ], "uin" : "201627"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023907", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023907/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Northern Ireland will receive their agreed share of the apprenticeship levy of £82 million in 2019/20. Northern Ireland will also receive an additional £3.8 million for apprenticeships in 2019/20, as announced in this year\u2019s budget.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anne Milton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Guildford"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anne Milton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-17T15:12:54.42Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Apprentices: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of apprenticeship levy funding that will be allocated to Northern Ireland in 2019-20.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"} ], "uin" : "201578"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023911", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023911/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
It is very important that we make sure that young carers can participate in education and receive the support they need. However, financial need will vary significantly from family to family.<\/p>
The department keeps under review the use of the 16-19 Bursary Fund to inform our understanding of whether it is providing effective support to our most economically disadvantaged students.<\/p>
The defined vulnerable groups eligible for particular support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund are groups that generally do not receive financial support from their families. Young carers can receive help from the discretionary element of the 16-19 Bursary Fund, which is made available to education and training institutions. It is their role to determine which young people need bursaries and the level of financial support required to enable these students to participate.<\/p>
Young carers are able to discuss their particular needs with their school or college, which can then provide appropriate individualised support. Government guidance for those institutions is very clear about the need to encourage young carers to apply for the bursary fund, to reassure them about confidentiality and to consider whether they need extra help because of their caring responsibilities. Our view is that institutions are best placed to assess the needs of young carers, rather than making a decision at national level.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anne Milton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Guildford"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anne Milton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-17T15:16:54.55Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "16-19 Bursary Fund: Carers"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of formally identifying young adult carers as a vulnerable group in order to give them full access to the 16-19 bursary.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4391", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Judith Cummins"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bradford South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Judith Cummins"} ], "uin" : "201690"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023912", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023912/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bWe know that some people experience barriers to undertaking full-time employment, such as managing caring responsibilities around a full-time role, so we have made it easier for part-time workers to undertake apprenticeships, such as those with caring responsibilities, including young carers and lone parents.<\/p>
Our apprenticeships funding rules allow flexible working arrangements. The minimum duration of the apprenticeship can be extended to make sure that working fewer than 30 hours a week is not a barrier to successfully completing an apprenticeship.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anne Milton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Guildford"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anne Milton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-17T16:09:26.063Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Young People: Carers"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to promote flexible and part-time apprenticeships for young carers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4391", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Judith Cummins"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bradford South"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Judith Cummins"} ], "uin" : "201691"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023920", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1023920/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "