Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of education policy on the future take-up of foreign languages at GCSE level.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
Education policy has a strong role to play in the future take up of languages at GCSE. That is why the department is continuing to fund the National Consortium for Languages Education to deliver online continuing professional development for teachers and a new model of languages support for schools. The new programme will have national reach as it is not constrained by geography or limited by the number of schools it can support.
The department announced an initial teacher training financial incentives package worth up to £233 million for the 2025/26 recruitment cycle, which is a £37 million increase on the last cycle. This includes tax-free bursaries available to eligible trainee teachers of modern foreign languages of £26,000. We have also increased tax-free scholarships to the value of £28,000 for trainee teachers of French, German and Spanish, and are continuing to offer bursaries and scholarships to all non-UK national trainees in languages.
Oak National Academy has also been funded to provide modern foreign languages lesson resources for schools in England across key stages 2, 3 and 4. These resources will be released in full by autumn 2025, helping the languages teachers who use them to prepare high quality classroom teaching and reduce their workload.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of pupils entered for a GCSE in the current year are taking (1) French, (2) Spanish, (3) German and (4) other foreign languages; and what proportion took those exams in 2010, 2015 and 2020.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The requested information is shown in the following table. Data relating to 2025 will be published in autumn 2025.
Percentage of pupils entering modern language GCSEs at the end of key stage 4
Language | 2019/20 Academic Year | 2014/15 Academic Year | 2009/10 Academic Year |
French | 20 | 25 | 25 |
German | 7 | 9 | 10 |
Spanish | 17 | 14 | 9 |
Arabic | Z | 0 | Z |
Chinese | Z | 1 | Z |
Italian | Z | 1 | 1 |
Polish | Z | 1 | Z |
Urdu | Z | 1 | Z |
Other Modern Language | 4 | 2 | 3 |
To note:
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of maths teachers currently employed in state-funded primary schools have a relevant post-A-level qualification; and what was the equivalent figure in 2020, 2015 and 2010.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
Information on the school workforce, including the number of teachers in each school phase and type, can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england/2023.
As of November 2023, there were 468,693 full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers employed in state-funded schools. There were 461,105 FTE teachers in 2020, 456,973 in 2015 and 441,354 in 2010. There was a ratio of 18.1:1 pupils to teachers in state-funded schools in the 2023/24 academic year, 18:1 in 2020/21, 17.3:1 in 2015/16, and 17.1:1 in 2010/11.
School workforce statistics as of November 2024 will be published in June 2025.
The department does not have forecasts of the number of teachers that will be employed by schools. However, as part of the calculations to estimate postgraduate initial teacher training (PGITT) recruitment targets, the Teacher Workforce Model estimates the likely supply of teachers for state-funded primary and secondary schools in England for the next two years.
Within modelling calculations published as part of the ‘2025/26 postgraduate ITT targets publication’, the department estimated a primary qualified teacher supply of 213,031 in 2024/25 and 211,909 in 2025/26. For secondary, the equivalent figures were 209,171 in 2024/25 and 209,763 in 2025/26. This modelling can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/postgraduate-initial-teacher-training-targets/2025-26.
The 2025/26 target for primary PGITT trainees has fallen by 1,750 compared to 2024/25, from 9,400 to 7,650, which represents an 18.6% fall. This fall was principally a result of more rapidly falling pupil numbers, and more favourable forecasts for both the future retention of teachers and the recruitment of newly-qualified entrants that defer entry into the profession.
The 2025/26 target for secondary PGITT trainees decreased by 4,685 compared to 2024/25, from 23,955 to 19,270, which represents a 19.6% fall.
This fall was driven by more favourable secondary supply forecasts this year, helped by a boost in PGITT recruitment, which is expected to deliver greater numbers of newly qualified teachers in the future. In particular, there was an increase of 2,000 trainees in secondary initial teacher training recruitment between 2023/24 and 2024/25. Additionally, the department’s most recent pay award is forecasted to improve teacher retention levels further and thus reduce future workforce losses.
The department does not collect information on subjects taught in primary schools.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many teachers are projected to be employed in state-funded schools in England for each of the next five years under the teacher supply model.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
Information on the school workforce, including the number of teachers in each school phase and type, can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england/2023.
As of November 2023, there were 468,693 full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers employed in state-funded schools. There were 461,105 FTE teachers in 2020, 456,973 in 2015 and 441,354 in 2010. There was a ratio of 18.1:1 pupils to teachers in state-funded schools in the 2023/24 academic year, 18:1 in 2020/21, 17.3:1 in 2015/16, and 17.1:1 in 2010/11.
School workforce statistics as of November 2024 will be published in June 2025.
The department does not have forecasts of the number of teachers that will be employed by schools. However, as part of the calculations to estimate postgraduate initial teacher training (PGITT) recruitment targets, the Teacher Workforce Model estimates the likely supply of teachers for state-funded primary and secondary schools in England for the next two years.
Within modelling calculations published as part of the ‘2025/26 postgraduate ITT targets publication’, the department estimated a primary qualified teacher supply of 213,031 in 2024/25 and 211,909 in 2025/26. For secondary, the equivalent figures were 209,171 in 2024/25 and 209,763 in 2025/26. This modelling can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/postgraduate-initial-teacher-training-targets/2025-26.
The 2025/26 target for primary PGITT trainees has fallen by 1,750 compared to 2024/25, from 9,400 to 7,650, which represents an 18.6% fall. This fall was principally a result of more rapidly falling pupil numbers, and more favourable forecasts for both the future retention of teachers and the recruitment of newly-qualified entrants that defer entry into the profession.
The 2025/26 target for secondary PGITT trainees decreased by 4,685 compared to 2024/25, from 23,955 to 19,270, which represents a 19.6% fall.
This fall was driven by more favourable secondary supply forecasts this year, helped by a boost in PGITT recruitment, which is expected to deliver greater numbers of newly qualified teachers in the future. In particular, there was an increase of 2,000 trainees in secondary initial teacher training recruitment between 2023/24 and 2024/25. Additionally, the department’s most recent pay award is forecasted to improve teacher retention levels further and thus reduce future workforce losses.
The department does not collect information on subjects taught in primary schools.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many full-time equivalent teachers are employed in state-funded schools in England; and how many there were in 2020, 2015 and 2010.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
Information on the school workforce, including the number of teachers in each school phase and type, can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england/2023.
As of November 2023, there were 468,693 full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers employed in state-funded schools. There were 461,105 FTE teachers in 2020, 456,973 in 2015 and 441,354 in 2010. There was a ratio of 18.1:1 pupils to teachers in state-funded schools in the 2023/24 academic year, 18:1 in 2020/21, 17.3:1 in 2015/16, and 17.1:1 in 2010/11.
School workforce statistics as of November 2024 will be published in June 2025.
The department does not have forecasts of the number of teachers that will be employed by schools. However, as part of the calculations to estimate postgraduate initial teacher training (PGITT) recruitment targets, the Teacher Workforce Model estimates the likely supply of teachers for state-funded primary and secondary schools in England for the next two years.
Within modelling calculations published as part of the ‘2025/26 postgraduate ITT targets publication’, the department estimated a primary qualified teacher supply of 213,031 in 2024/25 and 211,909 in 2025/26. For secondary, the equivalent figures were 209,171 in 2024/25 and 209,763 in 2025/26. This modelling can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/postgraduate-initial-teacher-training-targets/2025-26.
The 2025/26 target for primary PGITT trainees has fallen by 1,750 compared to 2024/25, from 9,400 to 7,650, which represents an 18.6% fall. This fall was principally a result of more rapidly falling pupil numbers, and more favourable forecasts for both the future retention of teachers and the recruitment of newly-qualified entrants that defer entry into the profession.
The 2025/26 target for secondary PGITT trainees decreased by 4,685 compared to 2024/25, from 23,955 to 19,270, which represents a 19.6% fall.
This fall was driven by more favourable secondary supply forecasts this year, helped by a boost in PGITT recruitment, which is expected to deliver greater numbers of newly qualified teachers in the future. In particular, there was an increase of 2,000 trainees in secondary initial teacher training recruitment between 2023/24 and 2024/25. Additionally, the department’s most recent pay award is forecasted to improve teacher retention levels further and thus reduce future workforce losses.
The department does not collect information on subjects taught in primary schools.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of pupils in state-funded primary schools reached the expected standard in key stage 2 assessments in all of reading, writing and mathematics in 2024 in (1) West Sussex, (2) Newham, and (3) England.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The data is published in the annual key stage 2 attainment official statistical release and provided in the table below:
Percentage of pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics (combined), 2024
Newham | 74% |
West Sussex | 57% |
England | 61% |
The key stage 2 attainment official statistical release is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/key-stage-2-attainment/2023-24.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether any specific action is being taken by Regional Improvement in Standards and Excellence at The March Church of England Primary School in Chichester to improve academic standards.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
The March Church of England Primary School in Chichester is not eligible to receive targeted support from a regional improvement in standards and excellence (RISE) adviser, as it was rated ‘Good’ in its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023. However, the school will be able to access the new RISE universal support service which is being launched. Through this service, the school will have access to training packages, networking and best practice through specialist hubs, to support its improvement.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Prime Minister at the Downing Street news conference on 25 February, how they calculated that 0.2 per cent of GDP equates to £13.4 billion.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In 2027/28 we will be spending £13.4 billion more on defence than we do today. Our cash spend in 24/25 is £66.3 billion and our cash spend in 27/28 will be £79.7 billion.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects on UK GDP of the imposition of tariffs by the President of the United States of America on Mexico and Canada.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMT continuously monitors external developments and potential impacts on the UK economy and is committed to considering what actions are best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.
Global trade is an important driver of global and domestic growth; increased trade barriers and increased uncertainty about trade policies between partners will be detrimental to the global and UK economies. We are clear – as a very open economy – that free and open global trade is in our national interest.
Asked by: Lord Tyrie (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the National Trusts Acts to require the National Trust to publish a comprehensive annual statement of the financial benefits it enjoys from tax reliefs and other disbursements from the Exchequer, whether direct or indirect.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has no plans to review the National Trust Acts. The National Trust is an independent charity, run by its board of Trustees who are responsible for the organisation’s governance.
The accounts and annual reports of all registered charities with an income of over £25,000 are freely accessible on the public register of charities provided by the Charity Commission on gov.uk. These provide detailed information on the charity’s income and expenditure, which can help the public better understand the charity and its finances.