Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support for (1) academic, and (2) living, costs is available to English postgraduate students studying for a Masters degree at an English university.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Postgraduate Master’s Loan scheme was introduced in summer 2016 to help remove the financial barrier often faced by those wishing to study at master’s level.
The Master’s Loan scheme is part of the government’s long-term commitment to enhance support for postgraduate study to make the UK more globally competitive by increasing the number of people with such high-level skills and knowledge.
Postgraduate students can borrow up to £11,570 for courses starting in the 2021/22 academic year. This loan is intended as a contribution to the cost of study, rather than specifically to cover tuition fees or living costs.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the role of teaching assistants in supporting children with special needs; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department has not made a formal assessment of the role of Teaching Assistants in supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) to date.
The Department has funded the development of a number of good practice guidance documents through its SEND schools’ workforce contracts, including a guide on the Effective Deployment of Teaching Assistants, available at: https://www.sendgateway.org.uk/whole-school-send/find-wss-resources.html.
The Department’s Rapid Evidence Assessment (2017) (available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/628630/DfE_SEN_Support_REA_Report.pdf) on effective practice for supporting children and young people on SEND support in mainstream schools and colleges also includes an overview of available evidence on a range of specific interventions delivered by teaching assistants.
The Education Endowment Foundation’s guidance report; “Making best use of Teaching Assistants” (available at: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/tools/guidance-reports/making-best-use-of-teaching-assistants) offers the latest evidence and makes a number of recommendations to help schools make best use of their teaching assistants.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of teaching assistants in schools; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The following table provides the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of teaching assistants in service in state funded schools in England, in each year since November 2010. This information can be found in the School Workforce Census, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2017.
| FTE teaching assistants |
2010 | 213,900 |
2011 | 219,800 |
2012 | 232,300 |
2013 | 243,700 |
2014 | 255,100 |
2015 | 263,000 |
2016 | 265,600 |
2017 | 262,800 |
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to promote inclusivity in religiously selective schools; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anne Milton
Like all schools, those with a designated religious character are required by law, and for academies, through their funding agreement, to promote inclusivity through supporting integration and community cohesion whatever their character and ethos. They are also required to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and to promote fundamental British values, including mutual respect and tolerance of those of other faiths and beliefs.
We know that the vast majority of schools with a religious character are open and inclusive. We believe that the broad religious literacy, which most promote, is helpful in giving students what they need to navigate our multicultural society.
In its response to the “Schools that work for everyone” consultation, the department announced the retention of the 50% cap on faith admissions in faith free schools. We also announced strengthened expectations on integration to ensure that the potential impact on the intake of neighbouring schools is assessed, before a new school is approved.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on future school funding; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State meets with the my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other Cabinet ministers regularly to discuss the Department for Education agenda.
Asked by: Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the level of future funding for special needs education in schools; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets with my right hon, Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other Cabinet ministers regularly to discuss the Department for Education agenda.