Speeches by Paffey.

“In making the case for any future arrangements—and any further comments colleagues want to make—have we learned lessons from previous regimes, like the one that was in place for further education?”

“The other risk that is concerning many is the emergence of cold spots in particular subject areas. Is that something we should realistically be concerned about? What are the specific Government policies or interventions that could help us avoid those cold spots?”

“On the specific concern about homogeneity of the sector if you lost some of the specialist provision, whether it is provided by smaller providers or more established, bigger providers, are there comments or concerns that you would raise? What would you say to that?”

“For the sake of time, I will not repeat the question about super-universities and the mergers model. What other opportunities—what alternative structures—can give hope to the sector as they are looking down the barrel of the next few years? What else can they pursue other than preparing for insolvency, which we have al…”

“Does anyone else want to comment on the case for or against, whether we think lessons have been learned and what it would need to contain? If everything has been said, don’t worry.”

“You have all rightly said that we should be looking at alternatives to insolvency rather than just preparing for the worst. Thinking about mergers, super-universities and so on, we have had some written evidence from GuildHE, which represents a lot of specialists and smaller HE providers, raising concerns that mergers …”

“I am delighted that this Labour Government are investing £20 million into Weston and a further £1.5 million into the wider Southampton Itchen constituency. Ideas are already flooding in from a group of people who are relieved not to be overlooked yet again, as they were under the last Government. Does the Minister agre…”

“Good morning. Sir Martyn, you have now set up a complaints’ hub within Ofsted, and you say the aim of that is to bring all of the complaints into one place. Could you tell us a bit more about the impact that that has had on the way that complaints are coming in and how they are handled?”

“As you go from pilot phase to full rollout, are you assuring us that you will be looking for that feedback, be it through the new framework and your calls and so on? That you will be looking to match that precisely with Dame Christine’s review, with the recommendations that were found, and with what perhaps trade union…”

“We recognise that what is coming looks very different to what was there before. We recognise there is significant change. Obviously neither you nor the sector nor we want to change just for the sake of change. What it has to do is ensure that there are schools where the best standard of education can be accessed by eve…”

“The strong challenge you are talking about has certainly been the Secretary of State’s description of what you are bringing to the role. There will be strong challenge as well as support. How do you intend to ensure that you are providing that robust challenge to Ofsted’s leadership at a crucial time for the organisati…”

“It is very helpful to hear about the various bits of progress being made because your initial assessment of Ofsted’s response to Ruth Perry’s death was that it had been very much defensive and complacent rather than reflective and self-critical. If I am hearing you right, is it your assessment that things have sufficie…”

“On your very salient comment about moving to understand how this is perceived outside, and whether people who are at the other end of this process find it more human, that is what all of us hope for. Dame Christine, I will go on specifically to a couple of questions about your review. It is now well over two years sinc…”

“That will be monitored ongoing, and we might want to pick that up next time we come back. Thank you.”

“Are you satisfied that everything you have just described deals sufficiently with what came out of the reviews in the first place and ensures where there was the absence of a clear path to raise concerns during an inspection, there is now a sufficiently clear path?”

“Do you think that the moves towards independence might be some of the further work that you are talking about? Correct me if I am wrong, Dame Christine, but I am sure in your review you recognise the lack of clear independence or sufficient independence in the eyes of some was a problem. Do you both want to comment on …”

“I thank my right hon. Friend for her statement and her comments on digital inclusion. Will she say a bit more about how the inclusion strategy might address some of the challenges faced by care-experienced young people and care leavers? Will she guarantee that the priority will be bringing together and integrating the …”

“Yes. I was really after what is most effective.”

“Good morning to the panel. I think it goes without saying that we talk about strategies, we talk about targets, but what we are after is not just moving money around, it is making a material difference so that children’s life chances are better. Could we dig into a bit more detail on what we know works? What has proven…”

“Sorry, are you saying that those are policy interventions that you have made in this case in Northern Ireland that are not yet there in the UK?”