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3,240 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSchools White PaperI am really puzzled by the image the noble Lord paints of multi-academy trusts representing privatisation. They receive exactly the same funding as any other state-maintained…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Creative Subjects and the English BaccalaureateWe simply do not accept that there is a crisis in creative subjects. The noble Lord rightly quoted some data, but I point out that the percentage of students taking art and design…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Creative Subjects and the English BaccalaureateThe department does not track the expenditure on these subjects in independent schools. What the department is committed to, and restated in the schools White Paper yesterday, is…29 Mar 2022HANSARDForeign Languages: Economic ValueThe Government welcome the results of the report, which do indeed highlight the notable achievements of the programme to date. We continue to explore how we can provide greater…29 Mar 2022HANSARDForeign Languages: Economic ValueI absolutely agree with my noble friend. The FCDO has some 800 specially trained linguists qualified in 46 languages, operating in 111 posts around the world. This figure includes…29 Mar 2022HANSARDForeign Languages: Economic ValueI absolutely agree with the noble Lord. Indeed, returning to diplomats, more than 70% of FCDO staff in speaker slots, which require language skills, now have a valid exam pass in…29 Mar 2022HANSARDForeign Languages: Economic ValueThe noble Baroness, Lady Coussins, referred to the Mandarin Excellence Programme, but I point out that, as the noble Baroness understands, French and Spanish are very widely…29 Mar 2022HANSARDForeign Languages: Economic ValueI think it is not elusive to British exporters. There are a number of mechanisms for improving our competitiveness on the world stage; language is one of them. However, English is…29 Mar 2022HANSARDForeign Languages: Economic ValueWe were very pleased to announce in the schools White Paper the network of modern foreign language hubs. We are also increasing the languages bursary to £15,000 for 2023 to…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Creative Subjects and the English BaccalaureateThe noble Lord raises a large, broad and important issue. Of course we need a resilient education system and resilient children, and in the announcements in our schools White…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Creative Subjects and the English BaccalaureateMy Lords, the Government remain committed to ensuring that all pupils receive a high-quality cultural education as part of a broad curriculum. This starts during the early years…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Creative Subjects and the English BaccalaureateI thank the noble Baroness for her question and her kind remarks but I just cannot accept what she suggests. As she points out, we have thriving cultural and creative industries…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Creative Subjects and the English BaccalaureateWe very much welcome the partnerships from the independent sector in music and many other areas, and my noble friend is right to highlight them. However, we also have a…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Creative Subjects and the English BaccalaureateTo the extent that it is within my gift, I will do my best.29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Creative Subjects and the English BaccalaureateThe national plan has been developed with an expert panel, of which the noble Lord is aware, and that panel consulted extensively during its work—through forums, surveys and other…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools White PaperI thank the noble Baroness for her remarks. On academisation, she will be aware that the picture is very different in secondary and primary education. About 78% of secondary…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools White PaperI thank the right reverend Prelate for his questions. I also extend my thanks to Church schools but also to all schools that have been working in the most difficult circumstances,…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools White PaperMy Lords, I will pass on my noble friend’s very warm words to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State. I am glad that she appreciates the White Paper. I agree with her…29 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Extremism and IntoleranceMy Lords, we remain absolutely committed to keeping children safe from extremism. We provide online resources and fund networks of practitioners to support schools to promote…28 Mar 2022HANSARDSchools: Extremism and IntoleranceThe Government recognise the very important contribution that whistleblowers make. We have had anonymous reporting lines since 2015 and established an online reporting system in…28 Mar 2022