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2017-19

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To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how the £25 million funding for T levels announced in the Spending Round 2019 will be allocated.

Asked by
Angela Rayner (Labour)
Answering body
Department for Education
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Date
3 October 2019
Reference
292259
House
House of Commons

My Lords, it is anticipated that 16 year-olds who undertake the new T-levels will mostly then go on to work. However, Her Majesty’s Government also expect that T-levels will be acceptable as entry requirements to our most selective universities. I assure the noble Baroness that this issue was on the agenda at the last meeting of the higher education advisory group in the department in May. She will be aware that the group includes Russell group universities, such as Exeter, Southampton and Oxford, as well as the chair of the Russell group qualifications network. The department is also meeting one-on-one with individual universities and their admissions officers, but expects that formal admissions decisions will be made once the detailed content of T-levels is available in spring next year.

Answered by
Baroness Berridge (Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 c1614
House
House of Lords

I welcome the noble Baroness to her appointment and look forward to working with her. T-levels were supposed to do all the things that well-established and highly respected BTEC and City & Guilds qualifications were apparently failing to do in respect of parity of esteem between academic and work-based qualifications; I declare an interest as a vice-president of City & Guilds. To bridge this divide, T-levels need recognition from universities. What input did universities have in the development of T-levels, and what are the Government doing to raise the profile of all suitable work-based qualifications as fulfilling entry requirements in order to expand diversity?

Asked by
Baroness Garden of Frognal (Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 c1614
House
House of Lords

The noble Baroness is correct that this is a moment where we can raise the parity of esteem. The selection of the name “T-level” enables us to raise the consciousness of there being parity with A-levels; that it is easily understandable. Industry has been involved intimately in developing the curriculum of these qualifications, which will begin in September 2020. Universities have been allowed to see the development and the progress of the content and to comment on it. We are determined to ensure that where it is relevant for a related degree, a T-level will be appropriate. However, some of the new T-levels—for instance, in design—will not be acceptable for English literature at Oxford. They will be specific to related qualifications.

Answered by
Baroness Berridge (Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 c1615
House
House of Lords

My Lords, I also welcome the noble Baroness to her new post and her first Question as an Education Whip. Notwithstanding her Answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Garden, before universities decide whether they will accept T-levels as entry qualifications, the Government need to stop sending mixed messages and clearly explain their purpose. I am aware that they are not yet fully developed, but until then there is clear doubt, which was to some extent compounded when recently the post of Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills was abolished. That sends out the wrong messages. The £120 million announced yesterday by the Secretary of State, without consulting the sector, has also wrong-footed a number of people. Can the Minister say where she sees T-levels fitting into the new education landscape apparently envisaged by the Secretary of State?

Asked by
Lord Watson of Invergowrie (Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 c1615
House
House of Lords

The new T-levels are part of the overall reform. It has been clear to noble Lords on all sides of the House that 16 year-olds who do not want to follow the traditional path into university have to make very complicated decisions. Outside of A-levels and GCSEs, there are more than 12,000 different qualifications to choose from. T-levels are part of bringing some crystallisation and clarity to the process. That is why there are a number of reviews going on, particularly into all post-16 qualifications. The Government are aware that some of those qualifications, such as BTECs, are well respected in industry. Therefore, there must be a two-stage review to make sure that, where qualifications overlap T-levels and we have decided not to fund them, it is done in consultation with business. As the Sainsbury panel made clear, it is high time that the 16 year-olds who are not going to follow the traditional path have a clear choice—A-levels or T-levels and apprenticeships.

Answered by
Baroness Berridge (Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 c1615
House
House of Lords

My Lords, I welcome the noble Baroness to her new role. Will the Government take this opportunity to look at special educational needs in relation to T-levels? The guidance published last year said that the example of apprenticeships would be followed for English and maths qualifications for groups such as dyslexics. This is still a confused area and there are complaints about it. The academic way is clearer cut and more straightforward. Can the

Government please clarify the situation and make sure that everybody involved knows what they are doing? I remind the House of my declared interests.

Asked by
Lord Addington (Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 c1615
House
House of Lords

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord and am aware of his interest in this area. I will have to check but there is a £60 million capacity fund, and some of that money will enable students to do the industry placement. There are also plans for a transitional programme at 16, to enable students who need an extra year in order to succeed to do a T-level over three years. However, I will write to him specifically about how those with special educational needs, and particularly those with an education, health and care plan, will be incorporated into the new T-levels.

Answered by
Baroness Berridge (Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 c1616
House
House of Lords

My Lords, is it not great news that the new Secretary of State has announced more emphasis on further education and on encouraging people to get qualifications other than the traditional three-year degree? Should the House not welcome this change of emphasis and the resources that have been put into it, of which T-levels are a part?

Asked by
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Conservative)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 c1616
House
House of Lords

I am grateful to my noble friend. Yes, it is about time that technical education in this country—outlined, I believe, by the noble Lord, Lord Hennessy, as one of the three top priorities that the Government should look at—finally got the parity of esteem that it deserves. The number of people studying for levels 4 and 5 qualifications in this country is woeful. It affects our productivity and, most of all, as the noble Baroness, Lady Corston, is aware, it affects the social mobility of many of our young people. I read with interest the response to the Augar report in your Lordships’ House. This area is often referred to as the Cinderella of the education sector. I look forward to all noble Lords using all their pressure to put ideas forward, because I think that Cinderella is about to go to the ball.

Answered by
Baroness Berridge (Conservative)
Type
Oral answers to questions
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 c1616
House
House of Lords

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with Russell Group universities about whether they will accept T-levels as entry qualifications for undergraduate degrees.

Asked by
Baroness Garden of Frognal (Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Date
1 October 2019
Reference
799 cc1614-6
House
House of Lords

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with industry on the importance of T levels for the economy.

Asked by
Jack Lopresti (Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Education
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Notes
Supreme Court ruling of 24 September that Parliament was not prorogued on 9 September.
Date
9 September 2019
Reference
286698
House
House of Commons

Lords statement on education funding.

Lead member
Lord Agnew of Oulton
Department
Department for Education
Type
Ministerial statements
Date
3 September 2019
Reference
799 cc988-645
House
House of Lords

Statement on education funding.

Lead member
Gavin Williamson
Department
Department for Education
Type
Ministerial statements
Date
3 September 2019
Reference
664 cc64-75
House
House of Commons

I welcome the investment and the package to support schools and further education colleges in Cornwall, but how much will each of our schools and colleges receive over the next three years? The three-year multi-year settlement is very important.

Member
Sarah Newton (Conservative)
Type
Proceeding contributions
Date
3 September 2019
Reference
664 c72
House
House of Commons

I know that my hon. Friend has been a doughty campaigner for schools and further education colleges in her constituency. One of the first pieces of correspondence I received was from her, demanding more for Cornwall, as we would expect of her. I shall write to the Members of Parliament...

Member
Gavin Williamson (Conservative)
Type
Proceeding contributions
Date
3 September 2019
Reference
664 c72
House
House of Commons

The £200 uplift in 16-to-18 funding is welcome—but it is only a start; it is for only one year; and it falls short of the £760 per student for which Raise the Rate campaigners asked. Will the Secretary of State take an early opportunity to put that right?

Member
Nicholas Dakin (Labour)
Type
Proceeding contributions
Date
3 September 2019
Reference
664 c72
House
House of Commons

This is a 4.7% increase. I know that the hon. Gentleman is a distinguished lecturer, and that he inspired many pupils in the course of his career

before entering the House. I look forward to discussing with him how we make the best possible investment to deliver the best possible...

Member
Gavin Williamson (Conservative)
Type
Proceeding contributions
Date
3 September 2019
Reference
664 c72
House
House of Commons

The Secretary of State’s announcement of additional funds is very welcome, but as governors and head teachers need to plan in advance does he agree that what he said about the predictability and understandability of the funding system is almost as significant? Will he ensure that as the system is...

Member
Jeremy Wright (Conservative)
Type
Proceeding contributions
Date
3 September 2019
Reference
664 c73
House
House of Commons

My right hon. and learned Friend makes an important point. I know that he represents a county that has historically faced funding challenges and that he has always campaigned for them to be addressed, and I am pleased to be able to do that. I will take his words very...

Member
Gavin Williamson (Conservative)
Type
Proceeding contributions
Date
3 September 2019
Reference
664 c73
House
House of Commons