Contributions
541 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSchools: RAACThe Minister may recall that one of the first acts of Michael Gove as Secretary of State for Education was to cancel Building Schools for the Future. I well remember the impact it…19 Sept 2023HANSARDLife Skills and CitizenshipMy Lords, I begin by thanking my noble friend Lady Garden for initiating this important debate, and for her valuable, witty and life-affirming contribution. I suppose we ought to…07 Sept 2023HANSARDTeacher ShortagesMy Lords, the number of teacher vacancies has doubled in two years. The number of students wanting to go into teaching has declined by 79%. We then have the issue of specialist…06 Sept 2023HANSARDA Failure of Implementation (Children and Families Act 2014 Committee Report)My Lords, I start by thanking my noble friend Lady Tyler for her inclusive chairing of this Select Committee. She acted at all times with complete professionalism, anxious to…06 Sept 2023HANSARDSchools: AdmissionsMy Lords, I declare an interest as a former head teacher of a Church of England school. As the Minister knows, a third of all our schools in England are faith schools. She will…17 Jul 2023HANSARDTeacher VacanciesMy Lords, 40,000 teachers left the teaching profession last year—the highest since we started recording the number. There are 2,300 empty posts and 3,300 posts are filled by…13 Jul 2023HANSARDLifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) BillI rise to support my noble friend Lord Addington’s amendment. I want to tease out of the Minister some answers on sharia law and its effect on accessing education opportunities…10 Jul 2023HANSARDLifelong Learning (Higher Education Fee Limits) BillMy Lords, I added my name to this amendment. I apologise for not being present at Second Reading. I echo the comments made by the noble Baroness, Lady Wilcox, that it is really…10 Jul 2023HANSARDLow Traffic NeighbourhoodsMy Lords, I am sure the Minister agrees that we must get this right. The Transport for London web page tells us the details about the scrappage scheme changes and the full…03 Jul 2023HANSARDWater Safety (Curriculum) Bill [HL]That the Bill be now read a second time.19 May 2023HANSARDWater Safety (Curriculum) Bill [HL]My Lords, I am grateful for your Lordships’ hugely important contributions. I thank the Minister for her, as usual, very detailed reply. It was very strong on swimming but less…19 May 2023HANSARDWater Safety (Curriculum) Bill [HL]My Lords, I declare my interest as a patron of the Royal Life Saving Society, which I thank for being so supportive, along with Swim England and other organisations. I also thank…19 May 2023HANSARDWater Safety (Curriculum) Bill [HL]I do not think that we thought that even for one moment. The noble Baroness, Lady Sater, rightly raised the issue of costs, which have soared and made it difficult for schools to…19 May 2023HANSARDSchools: “Ghost Children”My Lords, the Minister will be aware that a number of children’s charities are high- lighting that children and young people—often from disadvantaged backgrounds and less…02 May 2023HANSARDPerforming Arts: GCSE and A-level QualificationsThe Minister will be aware of the importance of the creative industries to our national economy. She will also be aware that the EBacc does not include creative subjects. She will…26 Apr 2023HANSARDOnline Safety BillMy Lords, I enter this Committee debate with great trepidation. I do not have the knowledge and expertise of many of your Lordships, who I have listened to with great interest.…25 Apr 2023HANSARDApprenticeship LevyMy Lords, I thank the Minister’s department for always giving fulsome Written Answers. From Written Questions we can see that the number of young people not in education or…25 Apr 2023HANSARDSpecial Educational Needs: Employment SupportMy Lords, I appreciate that this is not the Minister’s department, but she will be aware that jobcentres have work coaches who provide support, particularly to young people. In my…24 Apr 2023HANSARDSchools: Financial LiteracyMy Lords, those children and young people who are financially literate are less likely to make poor financial decisions. Unfortunately, we see many children, particularly those…20 Apr 2023HANSARDInternational Higher Education StudentsMy Lords—21 Mar 2023