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1658153

registered interest
date	05/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Nurseries: Buildings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has plans to assess maintained nurseries for risks associated with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	197808
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/09/2023 answer text <p><ins class="ministerial">Nothing is more important than the safety of children and staff, and it has always been the case that where the Department is made aware a building may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken. The Department knows how important it is for young people to be in classrooms with their friends and teachers, but their safety must come first. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department has been talking to schools about the potential risks of RAAC since 2018 when it first published a warning note with the Local Government Association. The Office of Government Property wrote to all Government Property Leaders in 2019, and again in September 2022, highlighting safety alerts on RAAC and signposting guidance on identification and remediation. The Government also created a cross-Government working group on RAAC this year to collectively address the issue. Since then, Departments have been surveying properties and depending on the assessment of the RAAC, decided to either continue or monitor the structure, reinforce it, or replace it. This is in line with the approach recommended by the Institution of Structural Engineers. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department discovered details of three new cases over the summer, where RAAC that would have been graded as non-critical had failed. The first of these was in a commercial setting. The second was in a school in a different educational jurisdiction. It was right to carefully consider the cases and scrutinise the technical details from these. Departmental technical officials were able to investigate the situation in one case where the plank that had failed was fully intact as it was resting on a steel beam after it failed. They concluded that it would previously been rated non-critical. Ministers were carefully considering the first two cases and advice from officials when a third failure of a panel occurred, at a school in late August. The Department’s technical officials also visited this school to investigate the failure.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">In light of all three cases, it was right to make the difficult decision to change our guidance for education settings and take a more cautious approach within the education estate in England. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Following careful analysis of these recent cases, a precautionary and proactive step has been taken to change the approach to RAAC in education settings ahead of the start of the academic year, as outlined in our guidance. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Maintained nursery schools are treated the same as schools and FE colleges. In 2022, the Department’s questionnaire to all responsible bodies, including those who run maintained nursery schools, asked them to provide information on RAAC.</ins></p><p><del class="ministerial">The UK higher education (HE) system is amongst the best in the world. Attracting the brightest students internationally is good for our universities and delivers growth at home.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Domestic students continue to make up the vast majority of overall undergraduate students within UK universities. The proportion of international acceptances on results day this year was 12.3%, having been 14.7% at the same point in 2019.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">This year on A level and T level Results Day, 186,710 English-domiciled 18-year-olds were accepted to HE providers in England compared to 162,680 in 2019.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to access a world class education remains a top priority and is fundamental to the department’s ambition to level-up skills, growth, and economic opportunity across the country.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">As autonomous bodies independent from the government, universities are responsible for their own recruitment decisions. Most universities have separate home and international student recruitment targets, set before the admissions cycle even begins. Universities plan their student numbers very carefully, not least because there are important implications for the provision of student support and wellbeing services, accommodation, and everything else needed to deliver the best student experience.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The department and I regularly engage with the HE sector to support policy making and delivery and did so throughout the 2023 cycle.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Most recently, on 7 September 2023, I attended the Universities UK annual conference and discussed how the government is supporting universities to maximise their immense economic and social impact. Key topics discussed included degree apprenticeships, the Lifelong Loan Entitlement and Horizon.</del></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 19/09/2023 15:09:59 question first ministerially corrected 16/10/2023 13:42:11 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb previous answer version 95935 answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1645655

registered interest
date	19/06/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Rebuilding Programme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number of school rebuilding programme projects that have experienced construction delays of more than one month in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Exeter
tabling member printed	Mr Ben Bradshaw
uin	190025
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2023 answer text <p>The Department is transforming buildings at 500 schools over the next decade as part of its School Rebuilding Programme. The construction programmes of building projects in all Department programmes is monitored by the Department through programme management and project delivery teams.</p><p>In the four school rebuilding projects which have been completed, three were delayed more than a month against initial forecasts. These initial programme forecasts were made ahead of the impact of significant events that could not have been reasonably predicted and that affected the global market.</p><p>The Department has continuously improved its approach to building schools since the Sebastian James’ review. This identified that the Building Schools for the Future programme, introduced under the last Government in 2004, was overly bureaucratic and not designed to target poor condition, did not support high and consistent quality, did not use standardised specifications that work for education, and did not deliver value for money and economies of scale from central procurement and delivery, which are all things that are now prioritised when building schools.</p><p>Under the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) this Government launched in 2014, whole schools were built<del class="ministerial"> at</del> one third <ins class="ministerial">cheaper</ins><del class="ministerial"> of the cost</del> per square metre on average than schools built under the Building Schools for the Future Programme. The Department has further built on this success in its School Rebuilding Programme, which is exceeding delivery timescales compared to PSBP, while delivering schools that will be net zero in operation. The Infrastructure and Project Authority has highlighted that our progress is very good.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 27/06/2023 16:39:14 question first ministerially corrected 10/07/2023 11:59:26 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb previous answer version 83604 answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	230 label Biography information for Mr Ben Bradshaw

1611102

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Blasphemy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether the new blasphemy guidance being developed by the Home Office and the Department for Education will be legally binding upon schools; how they are planning to make schools aware of their new responsibilities under that guidance; and how that guidance will be enforced.
tabling member printed	Lord Godson
uin	HL7123
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2023 answer text <p>In response to recent incidents, the Government has been clear that there is no blasphemy law in<ins class="ministerial"> Great Britain</ins><del class="ministerial"> the UK</del>. The Department has no plans to produce specific guidance on blasphemy for schools.</p><p>Head teachers are best placed to make the decisions on how to meet the needs of their pupils. In doing so, there are a range of considerations, supported by existing departmental guidance. This includes ensuring political impartiality and promoting respect and tolerance between people of different faiths and beliefs.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 28/04/2023 13:39:04 question first ministerially corrected 08/06/2023 12:00:36 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran previous answer version 69654 answering member printed Baroness Barran answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4903 label Biography information for Lord Godson

1602578

registered interest
date	08/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Bible and Koran
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether (1) the National Curriculum, and (2) other guidance provided to schools, requires that copies of the Koran and the Bible should receive equal respect; and if not, what plans they have to ensure that they are treated equally.
tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
uin	HL6265
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2023 answer text <p>Every school should actively promote mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs. Amongst other criteria, Ofsted will inspect pupils’ knowledge of, and respect for, different people's faiths, feelings, and values.</p><p>All schools must offer a broad and balanced curriculum, which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental, and physical development of pupils.</p><p>In response to recent incidents, the government has been repeatedly clear that there is no blasphemy law in<ins class="ministerial"> Great Britain</ins><del class="ministerial"> the United Kingdom</del>. The department has no plans to give specific guidance on the respect that should be shown to specific religious texts. However, the Home Office is drafting guidance on blasphemy incidents, which the department will support with as needed.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 27/03/2023 16:16:11 question first ministerially corrected 15/05/2023 09:53:11 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran previous answer version 62872 answering member printed Baroness Barran answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

1550079

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	Overseas Students: Ukraine
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on supporting Ukrainian students studying full-time at Ukrainian institutions remotely from the UK.
tabling member constituency	Wirral West
tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
uin	106534
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/12/2022 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The department has worked alongside colleagues at the Home Office to explore what support can be made available for both Ukrainian students continuing their study remotely from the UK, and those studying at UK institutions.</del></p><p>Universities in Ukraine are striving to maintain the education of their students under extremely challenging conditions. This includes through the provision of online distance learning for students enrolled at Ukrainian universities who now live in another country, including in the UK. The department encourages these students to speak with their education provider in Ukraine to understand what support is available for them to continue their studies at their Ukrainian provider. This includes those studying through the UK twinning programme, of which the government announced funding to support in June 2022. Information about this can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-uk-package-offers-a-lifeline-to-ukrainian-researchers-and-entrepreneurs" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-uk-package-offers-a-lifeline-to-ukrainian-researchers-and-entrepreneurs</a>. The programme provides support to Ukrainian universities by establishing partnerships with those in the UK.</p><p>Student finance is available only for eligible students studying a course provided predominantly in the UK by a UK higher education provider, including Ukrainian students who have enrolled at UK universities. In England, those studying via distance learning are, in general, not eligible to receive student loans to cover maintenance costs. This is also the case for Ukrainian students in England, who are studying via distance learning.</p><p>The department does not hold data on the number of Ukrainians who are studying online at Ukrainian institutions via distance learning in the UK.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 19/12/2022 12:35:35 question first ministerially corrected 30/12/2022 10:27:41 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon previous answer version 41109 answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1544421

registered interest
date	22/11/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Teachers: Workplace Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) independent and (b) state schools have left the Teachers' Pension Scheme in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Brent North
tabling member printed	Barry Gardiner
uin	93408
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2022 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">324 independent schools have left the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) between August 2019, when this information started to be compiled, and November 2022. 22 independent schools have joined the Scheme between January 2018 and November 2022.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">State schools and academies cannot choose to leave the TPS. The records show that 1,008 academies have ceased to be registered as scheme employers and 4,383 new academy employers have been registered in the TPS between January 2018 and November 2022. This is a result of state schools converting to academies and some single academy trusts joining multi-academy trusts.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">463 independent schools have left the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) between January 2018 and November 2022. 37 independent schools have joined the Scheme between January 2018 and November 2022. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">State schools and academies cannot choose to leave the TPS. The records show that 814 state schools have closed and so have ceased to be registered as scheme employers since January 2018. This is largely as a result of state schools converting to academies. 79 new state schools have been registered in the TPS since January 2018.</ins></p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 28/11/2022 18:14:08 question first ministerially corrected 20/12/2022 19:15:23 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb previous answer version 37093 answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	146 label Biography information for Barry Gardiner

1542429

registered interest
date	15/11/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Confucius Institutes: Higher Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Confucius Institutes on UK universities.
tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
uin	87856
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2022 answer text <p>Like all similar bodies, Confucius Institutes should operate transparently and with a full commitment to the department’s values of openness and freedom of expression. Universities have a responsibility to ensure that any partnership with a Confucius Institute is managed appropriately and that the right due diligence is in place. We encourage any providers with concerns to contact the department.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">The government will continue to review its measures as appropriate.</ins></p><p>The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will address concerns about the possible influence of overseas money in higher education (HE) in <ins class="ministerial">England</ins><del class="ministerial">the UK</del>, without reducing the ability of our world-class universities to work with global partners.</p><p>The Bill will empower the Office for Students (OfS) to require registered HE providers to report certain overseas funding, including of educational partnerships, such as arrangements with Confucius Institutes. The Bill will also allow the OfS to take appropriate action, including issuing penalties, if there is evidence that an HE provider has breached its freedom of speech duties.</p><p><del class="ministerial">The department will continue to review its measures as appropriate.</del></p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 22/11/2022 13:45:13 question first ministerially corrected 12/12/2022 17:48:02 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho previous answer version 35041 answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

1505553

registered interest
date	06/09/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Languages: Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department spent on teaching (a) Punjabi, (b) Bengali, (c) Hindi, (d) Gujarati, (e) Urdu, (f) Sinhalese, (g) Tamil, (h) Pashto and (i) Dari in schools in England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	48198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>Awarding organisations offering GCSEs and A levels are independent, <ins class="ministerial">and mostly</ins> not-for-profit organisations<ins class="ministerial">, with the exception of Pearson Edexcel which is profit making</ins>. They are not contracted to provide assessments for pupils in particular subjects. AQA offer a GCSE and A level qualification in Punjabi and Bengali, as well as a GCSE in Urdu. Pearson Edexcel offer a GCSE and A level qualification in Gujarati and Urdu and International GCSEs (IGCSEs) in Bengali, Hindi, Sinhalese, and Tamil. Cambridge International offer an A level in Hindi, Urdu, and Tamil. There are no qualifications available in Pashto or Dari. Awarding organisations are free to introduce qualifications in any GCSE or A level subject where they consider there to be a case to do so.</p><p>It is up to schools to decide which languages are taught as part of their curriculum, both at primary and secondary school, and the government does not specify which languages should be taught or how to teach them.</p><p>There has been no funding provided directly for the teaching of Punjabi, Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Sinhalese, Tamil, Pashto and Dari within the previous five years. However, the department has committed to establishing a network of language hubs, as per the Schools White Paper, and are considering ways in which we can support home, heritage and community languages as part of this.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 21/09/2022 17:23:22 question first ministerially corrected 17/10/2022 09:03:46 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst previous answer version 18097 answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1487012

registered interest
date	06/07/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Higher Education: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether UCAS plans to analyse its data to track young people who (a) receive lower A Level grades in the 2021-22 academic year than predicted as a result of their academic performance having been adversely affected by lockdown and other restrictions introduced to prevent the spread of covid-19 during 2020 and 2021 and (b) will consequently be without any Higher Education place at the end of the 2022 admission round; what discussions she has had with UCAS on steps to take to support young people in that position; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	31811
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2022 answer text <p>The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) operates as an independent charity and is separate from the government. The department will continue to work closely with UCAS, schools, colleges, awarding organisations, and the higher education (HE) sector to support the 2022 intake of students, so they can go on to their next step in life, whether that is university, further training, or work.</p><p>In November 2021, my right hon. Friend, the former Minister for Higher and Further Education, wrote to Vice Chancellors to recognise the hard work and dedication that the sector has shown to students throughout the 2021 and 2022 admissions cycles. The former Minister asked that additional resilience is built into strategies for the 2022 HE admissions cycle. HE sector bodies were engaged through the HE Taskforce to commend them on their efforts to date and to ask that they continue to put students first.</p><p>In June 2022, UCAS reported that 281,500 UK 18-year-olds were holding a firm offer, up 7,000 on last year and the highest on record. UCAS expect more students than in previous years to gain a place at their firm choice institution. It expects that on A level and T Level Results Day<del class="ministerial"> around 80%</del> <ins class="ministerial">the majority </ins>of students are likely to be confirmed at their firm choice. However, it is important to note that the exact numbers will not be known until 18 August, A level and T Level Results Day.</p><p>If students do not get the required grades, their preferred HE provider may still offer them a place. In the first instance, students are encouraged to talk to their school or college, or to their preferred university, who may be able to offer some flexibility. Students can also seek advice from the Exam Results Helpline run by the National Careers Service. UCAS will help thousands of students to find places through Clearing or explore other options once they have received their grades and predict that over 30,000<del class="ministerial"> places</del> <ins class="ministerial">courses </ins>will be available. Last year, 56,225 students (10%) entered university via Clearing.</p><p>While HE opens many doors for those who study at this level, it is by no means the right option for everyone, including those with the highest grades. There are multiple options for students to progress, including HE but also traineeships, T Levels, apprenticeships, the Kickstart scheme, and higher technical qualifications.</p> answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns question first answered 19/07/2022 16:56:27 question first ministerially corrected 17/08/2022 09:30:59 answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns previous answer version 12770 answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1487013

registered interest
date	06/07/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Higher Education: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an estimate of how the number of finally unplaced young people at the end of the 2022 university admission round will compare to years prior to the covid-19 outbreak; if she will make it her policy to (a) fund additional and specific careers guidance and pastoral support, (b) make available an additional year of full further education funding, (c) provide additional access provision in Higher Education and (d) undertake any other measures needed to support young people in that position; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	31812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2022 answer text <p>The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) operates as an independent charity and is separate from the government. The department will continue to work closely with UCAS, schools, colleges, awarding organisations, and the higher education (HE) sector to support the 2022 intake of students, so they can go on to their next step in life, whether that is university, further training, or work.</p><p>In November 2021, my right hon. Friend, the former Minister for Higher and Further Education, wrote to Vice Chancellors to recognise the hard work and dedication that the sector has shown to students throughout the 2021 and 2022 admissions cycles. The former Minister asked that additional resilience is built into strategies for the 2022 HE admissions cycle. HE sector bodies were engaged through the HE Taskforce to commend them on their efforts to date and to ask that they continue to put students first.</p><p>In June 2022, UCAS reported that 281,500 UK 18-year-olds were holding a firm offer, up 7,000 on last year and the highest on record. UCAS expect more students than in previous years to gain a place at their firm choice institution. It expects that on A level and T Level Results Day<del class="ministerial"> around 80%</del> <ins class="ministerial">the majority </ins>of students are likely to be confirmed at their firm choice. However, it is important to note that the exact numbers will not be known until 18 August, A level and T Level Results Day.</p><p>If students do not get the required grades, their preferred HE provider may still offer them a place. In the first instance, students are encouraged to talk to their school or college, or to their preferred university, who may be able to offer some flexibility. Students can also seek advice from the Exam Results Helpline run by the National Careers Service. UCAS will help thousands of students to find places through Clearing or explore other options once they have received their grades and predict that over 30,000<del class="ministerial"> places</del> <ins class="ministerial">courses </ins>will be available. Last year, 56,225 students (10%) entered university via Clearing.</p><p>While HE opens many doors for those who study at this level, it is by no means the right option for everyone, including those with the highest grades. There are multiple options for students to progress, including HE but also traineeships, T Levels, apprenticeships, the Kickstart scheme, and higher technical qualifications.</p> answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns question first answered 19/07/2022 16:56:27 question first ministerially corrected 17/08/2022 09:31:12 answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns previous answer version 14131 answering member constituency Morley and Outwood answering member printed Andrea Jenkyns answering member 4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas