Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department agreed for Doncaster College to work out-of-area in 2015 with Worksop Town FC in recruiting for a 16 to 19 football discussion; when her Department was first contacted by Doncaster College on such work; and what discussions officials of her Department had with North Nottinghamshire and West Nottinghamshire colleges on its decision.
Answered by Anne Milton
In the early part of 2015, Doncaster College formed a partnership with Worksop Town FC for a Sports Academy.
This type of arrangement is not one for which the then Education and Funding Agency would need to provide any formal approval.
Doncaster College had difficulties in fulfilling their side of any proposed partnership agreement and subsequently withdrew from the arrangement.
In light of the above, Doncaster College has not worked out of area with Worksop Town FC in 2015 or in any subsequent years.
The principal of North Nottinghamshire College contacted Worksop Town FC to discuss the development of the Sports Academy but received no response. There is no record of any discussion with West Nottinghamshire College.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of students on the 2015-16 West Anglia College/Worksop Town FC academy who attended an examination in 2016 for either mathematics or English.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Performance data on students at the end of 16-18 study in 2015/16, at The College of West Anglia, is available as part of the school performance tables1.
16-19 provision at the Worksop Town FC academy was funded by the Department in 2015/16 through a sub-contracting arrangement managed by the College of West Anglia. The Department does not hold student information at the level of Worksop Town FC academy.
1 Data for this institution can be found here: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/130763.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken in relation to Worksop Town football academy since March 2017.
Answered by Anne Milton
The former Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Robert Halfon, wrote to the hon. Member in April 2017 in response to concerns he had raised about Worksop Town football academy.
I have asked officials to meet with the hon. Member to discuss further action in relation to his correspondence on this issue.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2017 to Question 212, for what reasons the Answer does not say how much was paid to West Anglia College in 2015-16 for the Worksop Town FC 16 to 19-year-old football academy; and how much was paid.
Answered by Anne Milton
The education provision delivered at Worksop Town academy was delivered via a sub-contracting relationship with the College of West Anglia and under such arrangements, the students were enrolled by, and were the responsibility of, the college.
16 to 19 college funding is calculated using a funding formula based on lagged student numbers, so there is no specific breakdown of how that funding relates to individual students or provision.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department spent in (a) 2015-16 and 2016-17 on (i) 16 to 19 football academies and (ii) other 16 to 19 sports academies; and how many students received a full qualification from those academies in (A) maths and (B) English.
Answered by Anne Milton
The department does not hold the information requested.
The department funds sports provision for 16 to 19 year olds in a wide range of schools, colleges and other providers. However, the department does not directly fund any football or other sports academies, but does fund League Football Education and the FA Premier League Limited for delivery of education and training in association with football clubs. Some education and training linked to sporting organisations is also delivered through sub-contracting arrangements with funded institutions.
The department publishes annually details of sub-contracting arrangements recorded in relation to 16 to 19 provision – the latest information is available at:
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment of student disability, finances and other needs were carried out by West Anglia College during the 2015-16 provision of a 16 to 19 football academy with Worksop Town FC; and how many students received financial support as a result of these assessments.
Answered by Anne Milton
The department does not hold this information.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with (a) examining bodies and (b) the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the collapse of the Worksop Town FC, 16 to 19 football academy.
Answered by Anne Milton
Ministers have not held any such discussions.
I have asked officials to meet with the hon. Member to discuss further action in relation to his correspondence on this issue.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools in Bassetlaw constituency have (a) asbestos and (b) no fire sprinkler system.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department does not hold data centrally on asbestos or sprinkler systems in schools in the Bassetlaw constituency.
In March 2016, the Department carried out a data collection exercise, aimed at all schools to help us understand how asbestos is being managed across the country. 25.2% of schools responded, of which 83% indicated that asbestos was present on their school estate.
We intend to enhance our understanding of how effectively asbestos is being managed in schools, by asking all responsible bodies to provide a report on their schools’ compliance with associated legislation and guidance. Through this assurance process, responsible bodies can confirm whether asbestos is present in their schools and that they have the necessary processes and procedures in place, in relation to the management of asbestos, to ensure the safety of pupils, staff and visitors to their schools.
The Department has contacted all bodies responsible for safety in schools instructing them to carry out checks to identify any buildings which may require further investigation. We are asking that checks are carried out immediately to identify buildings that may require further investigation.
This analysis is to establish what, if any, external cladding has been used on these buildings. For these buildings, it will also check that where a fire risk assessment has identified the need to install a sprinkler system, it has been. This exercise will cover school buildings of all ages.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was paid to West Anglia College for the 2015-16 Worksop Town football academy; how many students from that academy received passes in maths and English; and how many students from that academy progressed to further or higher education.
Answered by Anne Milton
16-19 college funding is calculated using a funding formula based on lagged student numbers, and so there is no specific breakdown of how that funding relates to individual students or provision. The Department does not hold student information at the level of detail that would allow a response to the second and third elements of the question.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on which dates between September 2015 and March 2016 spot inspections took place at the Worksop Town football academy; and at which location these inspections were carried out.
Answered by Anne Milton
16-19 provision at the Worksop Town football academy was funded by the Department in 2015/16 through a sub-contracting arrangement managed by the College of West Anglia. A spot visit was made by quality assessors from the College of West Anglia to the Worksop site on 17 March 2016.