Contributions
1,271 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDExams and Accountability in 2021My Lords, for those participating this year, the generosity of grades will be similar, although not identical, to the generosity of grades in 2020. That is important because it…08 Dec 2020HANSARDExams and Accountability in 2021My Lords, I want to thank my noble friend. As a Minister, it is not necessarily always on the tip of my tongue to thank Civil Service staff for what they do. However, I have seen…08 Dec 2020HANSARDExams and Accountability in 2021My Lords, I am grateful to both noble Lords for generally welcoming what we have been doing. It has taken some time to make such a comprehensive announcement because we have been…08 Dec 2020HANSARDExams and Accountability in 2021I thank the noble Baroness for her comments. As I have outlined, one key to this —and the reason why the exceptional circumstances and generosity in grading this year will mirror,…08 Dec 2020HANSARDExams and Accountability in 2021My Lords, in relation to the situation in the devolved Administrations, the Secretary of State is in close contact with his equivalent representatives. In Scotland, yes, there has…08 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityMy Lords, it is encouraging to see, even without being asked by the Government, the flurry of businesses returning their business rates relief. We all have to tackle this pandemic…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityAs I am sure the noble Lord is aware, we have a childhood obesity strategy. Part of the national curriculum is also about food and nutrition. That is compulsory in maintained…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityMy Lords, the Social Mobility Commission is an arm’s-length body of the department. We monitor its reports carefully and take its recommendations into account. I will write to the…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityMy Lords, as part of our response to the pandemic, the Government are investing £900 million in additional work coaches. We have also made £100 million available for high-value…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityMy Lords, I also have the privilege of being the Minister for Women, and we are looking at the entitlement to flexible working. I am also pleased that we are focused on ensuring…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityI am grateful to the noble Lord. I am sure he is aware that, through the Culture Recovery Fund, we have given £1.57 billion to support that sector. I hope he is aware of the…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityMy Lords, social mobility, as the noble Lord has rightly outlined, is more than just for the Department for Education. It also impacts on the Department for Work and Pensions, the…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityMy Lords, I can assure the noble Baroness that specific emergency help has been provided to ensure that children who needed a meal when their schools were closed were given…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityMy Lords, the noble Lord is correct that we want to make sure to avoid this potential loss for young people, and education is of course a major protective factor in their lives.…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: Social MobilityMy Lords, social mobility is at the core of the department’s policies. The Government remain dedicated to ensuring that every child and young person will gain the opportunity to…07 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: GCSE and A-level ExamsI can assure the noble Baroness that we have worked closely, obviously, with FE and HE because the examination system of course bolts on to admissions, particularly in relation to…03 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: GCSE and A-level ExamsMy Lords, I always welcome the opportunity for meetings and I hope that in the new year our meetings can be face to face rather than on Zoom. We are convinced that this set of…03 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: GCSE and A-level ExamsMy Lords, we are confident that schools—as will be shown when they are inspected by Ofsted, which will not happen until at least the summer term—are delivering a broad and…03 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: GCSE and A-level ExamsMy Lords, since schools have returned, they have known about and had to adapt to the guidance for public health restrictions on the curriculum, such as not running geography field…03 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: GCSE and A-level ExamsMy Lords, no, we are not relying on teachers in that way. We are convinced that, for those students who are part of the way through their courses, the fairest way to assess them…03 Dec 2020