Contributions
3,240 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSchool Inspections: FundingIt would be up to the trust, in relation to an academy, or the local authority to address those specific weaknesses. The department has led on the development of a framework of…17 Apr 2024HANSARDSchool Inspections: FundingAgain, I can only agree with the noble Lord. I was reflecting on the new verb that has entered the lexicon of being “Ofsteded”—we will leave that. This is important. The work that…17 Apr 2024HANSARDSchool Inspections: FundingI take the noble Lord’s point, but there is not a lot of evidence to suggest overall that inspection is not done well. There is significant quality assurance of inspections, and,…17 Apr 2024HANSARDSchool Inspections: FundingAs I said in my initial response, Ofsted, like any well-run organisation, has looked at where it is spending its budget and has refocused that. The Government have given it…17 Apr 2024HANSARDSchool Inspections: FundingMy Lords, Ofsted, like all public services, is expected to operate efficiently and effectively to provide the best value for money for taxpayers and use its resources to best…17 Apr 2024HANSARDSchool Inspections: FundingI thank my noble friend for his remarks. I agree that we have a system in this country with high autonomy in our schools. We trust our school and trust leaders to deliver for our…17 Apr 2024HANSARDSchools and Colleges: Special Educational NeedsThe national funding formula is structured, as the noble Baroness is aware, to make sure that funding is targeted towards pupils who need additional support. In 2024-25, over £4.5…15 Apr 2024HANSARDSchools and Colleges: Special Educational NeedsThat is precisely what we are aiming to do through our practitioner standards. The noble Baroness will be aware that we are starting with the biggest areas of additional needs:…15 Apr 2024HANSARDSchools and Colleges: Special Educational NeedsI thank the noble Baroness for her important question, which is at the centre of parents’ concerns as they worry about getting the right support for their children. We are testing…15 Apr 2024HANSARDSchools and Colleges: Special Educational NeedsI would say two things to the noble Lord. First, we do not need a diagnosis for a child to be able to offer them support; it is important that a child gets support as quickly as…15 Apr 2024HANSARDSchools and Colleges: Special Educational NeedsMy Lords, the SEND and alternative provision improvement plan aims to create enduring and inclusive cultures in our schools and colleges, by delivering training and knowledge to…15 Apr 2024HANSARDSchools and Colleges: Special Educational NeedsMy noble friend makes a very good point. As the House knows, the Government have invested very large amounts of money in increasing capacity for special school places, rising by…15 Apr 2024HANSARDSchools and Colleges: Special Educational NeedsI can genuinely reassure the noble Baroness that teacher workload and teacher retention are incredibly high up our list of priorities within the department. It is a central focus…15 Apr 2024HANSARDSchools and Colleges: Special Educational NeedsWe have to be very careful about talking about dumping children. I have not met a school yet that behaves like that. I want to pick up on the point made by the noble Baroness,…15 Apr 2024HANSARDSchools and Colleges: Special Educational NeedsAs the noble Baroness knows, the Government have an ambitious plan in terms of the creation and development of mental health support teams in schools. We estimate that, from April…15 Apr 2024HANSARDStudent Loan Interest RatesThe noble Lord is right, and that is why we are focusing on improving both the quality and the quantity of careers advice to students at school. We are doing a lot of work through…27 Mar 2024HANSARDStudent Loan Interest RatesI come back to my earlier answer: we have a system in which it is very clear that above a certain threshold, 9% of income goes to repaying part or all of a graduate’s debt. The…27 Mar 2024HANSARDStudent Loan Interest RatesI think the noble Lord is aware that there is a cap on the interest rate, but I remind the House that interest rates do not impact on the income of borrowers. Repayments are a…27 Mar 2024HANSARDStudent Loan Interest RatesI am afraid I cannot agree with my noble friend. The debt repayment levels are dependent on income, and, as I said to the noble Lord, Lord Sikka, we expect that under the new plan…27 Mar 2024HANSARDStudent Loan Interest RatesI would be delighted to talk to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State, but, as the noble Lord knows, this is a timing issue in terms of getting settled status. I…27 Mar 2024