Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Southgate and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect of a reduction in per student funding for universities on their ability to collaborate and partner with local employers; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Business-university collaboration is increasingly important, both in the development of work-ready, highly skilled graduates, and in contributing to local and regional economic growth.
My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced a major review of post-18 education and funding that will ensure we have a joined up education system that is accessible to all and encourages the development of the funding and skills we need as a country. The independent panel will report shortly. The government will consider their recommendations, but we remain committed to ensuring that universities are funded on a sustainable basis.
The government is committed to ensuring that funding is available to support sustainable collaboration between universities and businesses in local areas and is supporting this work in a number of ways:
The Office for Students (OfS), through its Industrial Strategy and Skills Challenge Competition is funding providers (including in collaboration with employers) to develop and implement projects to improve outcomes for graduates who seek employment in their home region. Details of which can be found at: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/ofs-challenge-competition-industrial-strategy-and-skills-support-for-local-students-and-graduates/.
Similarly, the UK Research and Innovation 'Strength in Places Fund' is a competitive fund for collaborative bids between research institutions and businesses to support significant regional growth through research and innovation. Details can be found at: https://www.ukri.org/funding/funding-opportunities/strength-in-places-fund/.
The OfS is providing £20 million for the Institute of Coding which will target a skills gap in digital skills and involves collaboration between education providers and industry. This includes working together to create core content and introducing flexible ways to learn.
The government also part funds the National Centre for Universities and Business which promotes, develops and supports university and business collaboration across the UK.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Southgate and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will ensure that universities continue to be sustainably funded to enable them to expand the partnerships they have with local business and employers as set out in the recent HE business and community interaction survey by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Business-university collaboration is increasingly important, both in the development of work-ready, highly skilled graduates, and in contributing to local and regional economic growth.
My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced a major review of post-18 education and funding that will ensure we have a joined up education system that is accessible to all and encourages the development of the funding and skills we need as a country. The independent panel will report shortly. The government will consider their recommendations, but we remain committed to ensuring that universities are funded on a sustainable basis.
The government is committed to ensuring that funding is available to support sustainable collaboration between universities and businesses in local areas and is supporting this work in a number of ways:
The Office for Students (OfS), through its Industrial Strategy and Skills Challenge Competition is funding providers (including in collaboration with employers) to develop and implement projects to improve outcomes for graduates who seek employment in their home region. Details of which can be found at: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/ofs-challenge-competition-industrial-strategy-and-skills-support-for-local-students-and-graduates/.
Similarly, the UK Research and Innovation 'Strength in Places Fund' is a competitive fund for collaborative bids between research institutions and businesses to support significant regional growth through research and innovation. Details can be found at: https://www.ukri.org/funding/funding-opportunities/strength-in-places-fund/.
The OfS is providing £20 million for the Institute of Coding which will target a skills gap in digital skills and involves collaboration between education providers and industry. This includes working together to create core content and introducing flexible ways to learn.
The government also part funds the National Centre for Universities and Business which promotes, develops and supports university and business collaboration across the UK.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Southgate and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with Ofsted on how effective management of pupil exclusions can be strengthened in the new inspection framework for schools.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Ofsted is currently consulting on proposals for a new inspection framework. This includes a separate graded judgement on pupils’ behaviour and attitudes, within which inspectors will consider pupil exclusions. Ofsted has also proposed a new emphasis on examining any use of off-rolling as well formal exclusions. The Department engaged closely with Ofsted as it developed its consultation proposals, and that engagement continues.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Southgate and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with Ofsted on the delivery of local authority-run children’s services.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Ministers and officials at the department meet representatives of Ofsted frequently to discuss the delivery of local authority-run children’s services. I last had such a discussion with Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector in November. I also meet regularly with Ofsted’s National Director for Social Care, most recently in October.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Southgate and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department last conducted a review of the cost of universal infant free school meals and; and what the timeframe is for his Department to conduct another review of that policy.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The £2.30 per meal rate that we provide to schools to fund universal infant free school meals was set at the last spending review in 2015. The rate is based on the School Food Trust’s survey estimate of the average cost of a primary school meal, and on discussion with stakeholders and school food experts.
Decisions about school funding beyond 2020 will be taken at the next spending review in 2019.