A new phase of our communications campaign starts in early 2018 to encourage employers to offer high quality apprenticeship opportunities. This will build on the National Apprenticeship Service\u2019s ongoing communications activity to increase awareness and benefits of apprenticeships among employers and learners.<\/p>
<\/p>
We will also be holding National Apprenticeships Week from 5 \u2013 9 March 2018.<\/p>
<\/p>
In November, I launched the Young Apprenticeship Ambassador Network in Birmingham, a group of past and current apprentices whose remit is to help grow and expand the apprenticeship programme by reaching out to young people and providing them information.<\/p>
<\/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" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-11T17:42:18.037Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Apprentices"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What plans she has to encourage the take-up of apprenticeships.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/55", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "New Forest West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Desmond Swayne"} ], "uin" : "902864"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/803728", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/803728/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I am a strong supporter of Church and faith schools, they are high performing, popular with parents and make an excellent contribution to our education system. Through the free schools programme we have supported the creation of 71 new state-funded Church and faith schools.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/803728/answer/previousversion/28798", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-11T18:51:34.877Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Faith Schools"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What steps she is taking to support the opening of more faith schools.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4005", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bob Blackman"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrow East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bob Blackman"} ], "uin" : "902862"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/803729", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/803729/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are providing high needs funding of £5.84 billion to local authorities this year, rising to £5.97 billion next year, to help local councils support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.<\/p>
Earlier this year we gave local councils £23 million to support a strategic review of their special provision, and have allocated £215 million of capital funding to enable local councils to create more places for those with special educational needs and disabilities.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1562", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scarborough and Whitby"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robert Goodwill"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-11T17:39:01.253Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Special Educational Needs"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What steps she is taking to support local authorities to meet the cost of providing school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/188", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ed Davey"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingston and Surbiton"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Edward Davey"} ], "uin" : "902863"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/803730", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/803730/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There are already record numbers of disadvantaged English 18 years olds benefitting from full-time higher education, and universities expect to spend over £860 million in 2018/19 on measures to improve the access and success of disadvantaged students, up from £404 million in 2009, through their access agreements.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Higher Education and Research Act includes a transparency duty requiring all universities to publish applications, offers, acceptance and retention rates broken down by gender, ethnicity and social economic background. This will help to hold universities to account for their records on access and retention.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4039", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Orpington"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Joseph Johnson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-11T17:44:28.977Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universities: Admissions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What steps the Government is taking to ensure that more students from disadvantaged backgrounds go to university.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4635", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Eddie Hughes"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Walsall North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Eddie Hughes"} ], "uin" : "902866"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804217", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804217/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The government is committed to improving the quality of science education, including making sure pupils experience practical science. A number of programmes provide support to science teachers and technicians to improve science teaching, including support to deliver practical work. These programmes include the national network of \u2018Science Learning Partnerships\u2019, incorporating support for schools to improve the take up of GCSE triple science, and the \u2018Stimulating Physics Network\u2019.<\/p>
<\/p>
The latest provisional data on GCSE entries in England shows that 91.2% of pupils sat science GCSEs in 2017, up from 86.8% in 2016. There was also an increase in the number of A level entries in science subjects in England, with 2017 provisional data showing that there were 134,105 entries in physics, chemistry and biology A levels, up from 130,787 in 2016.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are introducing the national funding formula from 2018-19 so that, for the first time, school funding will be distributed according to a formula based on the individual needs and characteristics of every school in the country. This is supported by a significant extra investment of £1.3 billion across 2018-19 and 2019-20, over and above the budget announced at the 2015 spending review.<\/p>
<\/p>
Core funding for schools and high needs will rise from almost £41 billion in 2017-18 to £42.4 billion in 2018-19 and £43.5 billion in 2019-20. This will allow us to maintain school and high needs funding in real terms per pupil for the next two years. It is for schools to determine how much of their funding is spent on practical science.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-01-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-01-05T13:57:37.257Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Science: Education"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that school science practical classes are funded to a level sufficient to (1) stimulate school pupils, and (2) meet the requirements set by the examination boards.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2543", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hunt of Chesterton"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hunt of Chesterton"} ], "uin" : "HL4038"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804222", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804222/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The government is proud to have introduced marriage for same-sex couples.<\/p>
<\/p>
We continue to keep the matter of civil partnerships under review. The government has consulted on the continued operation of civil partnerships and there has been little consensus. It is right that we evaluate the demand for civil partnerships before we make changes to the law. We are assessing the demand amongst both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. We believe it is still too early to judge how the law should be changed.<\/p>
<\/p>
There was a Judicial Review of our decision not to extend civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples and the claimants have recently been granted an appeal to the Supreme Court.<\/p>
<\/p>
As this is an ongoing legal case, we are unable to comment further at this stage.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-22T12:59:17.947Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Civil Partnerships"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend civil partnership to opposite sex couples.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2037", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Lester of Herne Hill"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Lester of Herne Hill"} ], "uin" : "HL4043"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804230", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804230/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The department would not expect to be made aware of independent research with schools. We would, however, expect any research with schools to be carried out in accordance with ethical principles around anonymity and disclosure, which can be found in frameworks such as the \u2018Ethical Assurance Guidance for Social Research in government\u2019 which is attached.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804230/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "ethics_guidance_tcm6-5782.pdf"} , "title" : "GSR Professional Guidance"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-22T14:01:27.647Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pupils: Attendance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 6 December (HL3501), whether the Department for Education would normally expect to be made aware of any research concerning school attendance which involved the divulgence of names and addresses of school pupils by school attendance officers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1861", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for The Countess of Mar"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "The Countess of Mar"} ], "uin" : "HL4051"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804231", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804231/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Under the Children and Families Act 2014, local councils are required to conduct statutory education, health and care (EHC) needs assessments. These determine whether children and young people in their area have special educational needs which require additional support or provision. Where a local council deems that a statutory EHC plan should be issued, it is responsible for securing the special educational provision specified in the plan. If a maintained school, academy, non-maintained special school, general further education college or an independent provider on the section 41 approved list is named in an EHC plan, the institution must admit the child or young person.<\/p>
<\/p>
The department has provided local councils with £252 million between 2014-15 and 2017-18. This supports local councils to embed the special educational needs and disability reforms, as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-20T16:44:41.387Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Special Educational Needs"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the measures and resources required to enable local authorities to provide education, health and care plans for all children with special educational needs who, without such plans, could be at risk of being effectively excluded from education provision.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2170", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ouseley"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Ouseley"} ], "uin" : "HL4052"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804232", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/804232/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996 (as amended), local authorities have a duty to put alternative provision in place for children of compulsory school age who would not otherwise receive suitable education for any reason. A number of these children may be young offenders who are not in custody. The department issues statutory guidance for local authorities on alternative provision which outlines that good alternative provision (AP) should have arrangements for working with youth offending teams.<\/p>
<\/p>
Funding for compulsory school age children in alternative provision is made available to local authorities through high needs funding. The department also collects data annually on the number of children in local authority-commissioned alternative provision in schools, pupils and their characteristics. This can be found in the attached spreadsheet, which is part of information collected in the January 2017 school census available here:<\/p>