Every parliamentary written question tabled by Richard Holden this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 101–106 of 106 · Department for Education
What plans she has for the role of trade unions in working with specialist technical excellence colleges.
The department will be bringing forward further details on the role of all local partners working with Technical Excellence Colleges in due course. These colleges will work with businesses, trade unions and local government to provide young people and adults high quality training that local economies need.
How many students (a) began and (b) completed level (i) 3, (ii) 4, (iii) 5, (iv) 6 and (v) 7 apprenticeships in each year between 1997 and 2024.
Apprenticeship starts and achievements are published by level from academic year 2002/03 and can be found in the following links: 2017/18 to 2023/24 (reported to date):https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/c63cef58-95e2-4f9e-b7d1-08dcab23a860. 2014/15 to 2016/17:https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/bd0d64fd-52e9-4a1e-b7d2-08dcab23a860. 2002/03 to 2013/14 apprenticeship starts:https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F5a82b65940f0b62305b93f40%2Fapprenticeships-starts-by-framework-level-and-gender.xls&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK. 2002/03 to 2013/14 apprenticeship achievements:https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F5a7f5c50e5274a2e8ab4bb61%2Fapprenticeships-achievements-by-sector-subject-area-level-and-age.xls&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK. To note, intermediate apprenticeships are equivalent to level 2, Advanced apprenticeships are equivalent to level 3 and Higher apprenticeships are equivalent to those at level 4 and above. Apprenticeship starts and achievements within an academic year cannot be used to infer the proportion of apprenticeships that are achieved. They are independent performance metrics. Typically, apprenticeships are achieved in a subsequent academic year to the one they started in.
What her planned timetable is for the creation of an additional 3,000 nurseries.
The department knows that high-quality early education and childcare is a crucial opportunity to transform life chances, yet too often it is unavailable or unaffordable.To tackle this, the department will open an additional 3,000 nurseries through upgrading space in primary schools. The department will start delivering additional places as soon as possible, whilst also driving high and rising standards and better opportunities for every child. The department will work closely with schools, local authorities and private, voluntary and independent providers to help deliver new nursery places and the expansion in childcare entitlements.
What steps her Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the Twenty-Seventh Report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 2022-23 on Evaluating innovation projects in children’s social care, HC 38, published on 22 November 2022.
The recommendations from the Twenty-Seventh Report of the Committee of Public Accounts rightly highlighted that the innovation projects in children’s social care needed to be fully evaluated and that the subsequent learning from previous innovation work should be sufficiently scaled and spread. The department is committed to ensuring that evaluation and learning drive how it sets the direction for practice in children’s social care. Whilst the recommendations from the Public Accounts Committee have been enacted, there is more that will be done to work with the sector, key stakeholders and those with lived experience, to ensure that this learning translates into improvements for children, young people and their families.
What is her timeline is for reviewing (a) capital projects relating to RAAC within schools and (b) other capital projects.
High and rising school standards are at the heart of the mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life. Ensuring schools have the resources and buildings they need is a key part of that.There are over 22,000 schools and colleges in England of which around 1% have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) present in some areas of their buildings.The department will fix this problem as quickly as possible and permanently remove RAAC either through grant funding or rebuilding. All schools and colleges with RAAC are continuing to receive support from caseworkers where needed and are providing full time face to face education for all pupils.School buildings should be fit for the future. The department will set out further details on wider spending plans, including for capital funding, in due course.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on (a) class sizes, (b) teacher recruitment and retention and (c) relations with unions in state schools of the introduction of VAT on education provision in the independent sector.
Education matters and is at the heart of the mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The impact of any tax changes affecting independent schools on the state sector will be carefully considered. The government will complete its analysis once details of the policy changes have been confirmed; this will happen in due course.