Contributions
1,330 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDQualifications Reform ReviewThe noble Lord is right that, when faced with a positive phalanx—I do not know what the collective noun is for former Education Ministers—it is probably wise to realise that there…18 Dec 2024HANSARDQualifications Reform ReviewI thank noble Lords for their response to the Statement. As the noble Baroness, Lady Barran, says, we have been clear, in making this Statement, that we are providing certainty…18 Dec 2024HANSARDQualifications Reform ReviewI do not think it is appropriate for anybody—I do not think the noble Lord would have done it—to say that there would never be any development or new qualifications introduced…18 Dec 2024HANSARDState-funded Schools: Special Educational NeedsOllie is very lucky to have the noble Baroness as his great-aunt. But she raises an important point about the speed with which it is possible to carry out assessments. It is for…11 Dec 2024HANSARDState-funded Schools: Special Educational NeedsThe noble Baroness makes an important point about the responsibility of all teachers to be able to identify special educational needs. All teachers are special educational needs…11 Dec 2024HANSARDState-funded Schools: Special Educational NeedsMy noble friend is right. It is important that we tackle absenteeism in the way that this Government have outlined and that I have talked about at this Dispatch Box on previous…11 Dec 2024HANSARDState-funded Schools: Special Educational NeedsThe noble Lord is absolutely right about the need to identify early. We have measures in place to help teachers with early identification and support, particularly for the…11 Dec 2024HANSARDState-funded Schools: Special Educational NeedsMy Lords, the majority of children and young people with special educational needs have their needs met in mainstream schools. We are committed to ensuring that schools have the…11 Dec 2024HANSARDState-funded Schools: Special Educational NeedsI was around in 1999 when the focus of the previous Labour Government was on literacy and numeracy in a way that has undoubtedly led to continued improvements in our children’s…11 Dec 2024HANSARDState-funded Schools: Special Educational NeedsThe right reverend Prelate is exactly right that, where you see an assessment of special educational needs alongside other areas of disadvantage, there is, if you like, an…11 Dec 2024HANSARDMaintained Schools: Term DatesMy Lords, the Government have no plans to change the current regulations. Academies generally tend to follow the same structure as local authority-maintained schools, and we…09 Dec 2024HANSARDMaintained Schools: Term DatesSome enormously good work has been done by academies and maintained schools on using teaching and non-teaching staff to ensure that children are getting a good education. None of…09 Dec 2024HANSARDMaintained Schools: Term DatesIn most local authority areas there is usually a general coherence between the holiday sessions offered by maintained schools and by academies. While academy trusts are free to…09 Dec 2024HANSARDVocational TrainingMy Lords, the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Transfer of Functions etc) Bill is crucial for a skills system that is more responsive to employers’ skills…09 Dec 2024HANSARDVocational TrainingAs we have discussed at some length as the Bill has gone through this House, the intention in shifting the functions is to enable them to be used by Skills England, which will be…09 Dec 2024HANSARDVocational TrainingMy noble friend is absolutely right; we have a skills shortage, and it has worsened over recent years in the way she describes. That means we need the industrial strategy this…09 Dec 2024HANSARDVocational TrainingThe noble Baroness makes an important point. Whether young people—and older people—have success in their careers and can access the skills they need starts before the age of 16.…09 Dec 2024HANSARDVocational TrainingThe noble Baroness has contributed considerably to my education, while I have been in this place, on the crucial role played by those really excellent music and dance schools.…09 Dec 2024HANSARDVocational TrainingThe right reverend Prelate is right about some of the opportunities available to 14 to 16 year-olds in our excellent FE colleges. I was not clear about the particular inequality…09 Dec 2024HANSARDVocational TrainingThe noble Lord is right that we need to improve the careers advice available to young people in our schools. That is why this Government are investing in it and in the expert…09 Dec 2024