Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer to Question 141156 on Overseas Students: Ukraine, whether students who arrive in the UK on the (a) Homes for Ukraine Scheme and (b) the family route are eligible for student finance.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
We are extending access to higher education (HE) student support, home fee status, tuition fee caps, Advanced learner loans and further education 19+ funding for those who are granted leave under one of the three schemes for Ukrainians introduced recently by the Home Office.
This ensures Ukrainians who have been affected by the war in Ukraine can access support on the same basis as those within other protection-based categories (such as refugees).
In line with those within existing protection-based categories, these persons would not be required to meet a three-year period of ordinary residence for HE support, Advanced Learner Loans or further education 19+ funding but would need only to have been ordinarily resident in the UK since their grant of leave.
Access to student support is crucial in enabling them to attend education to improve their skills and enhance the ability of Ukrainians to contribute to the UK, or to the rebuilding of their home country.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department is providing to Universities on providing support and advice for Ukrainian students.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
The department has been working closely with the education sector and across government to ensure that Ukrainian students in the UK are supported during this difficult time. This includes new visa options for Ukrainian nationals, including students, announced by the Home Office. These will provide them with an opportunity to extend their leave or switch to a Graduate visa without having to leave the UK.
Many higher education (HE) providers have hardship funds that students can apply to for assistance, should individuals’ finances be affected in the 2021/22 academic year. We continue to encourage providers to accept hardship applications from international students, including those from Ukraine, in the same way they did for the £85 million of additional hardship funding made available by the government last academic year to ensure support is given where it is most needed.
I reconvened the higher education (HE) taskforce, bringing together representatives from across the sector to discuss how we can work together in supporting Ukrainian students. We are encouraging HE providers to be as flexible as possible to support prospective students impacted by the situation in Ukraine. There are still many courses available through UCAS that students can apply for. We would encourage them to engage in conversations with their preferred providers to understand the full range of options available specifically to them.
The government will look to support Ukrainian students as they reassess their options in the UK.
The department recognises that the current uncertainty means that many students may experience additional mental health challenges. Protecting student and staff wellbeing is vital. It is important students continue to be able to access the mental health and wellbeing support they need.
We encourage students to stay in touch with their HE provider’s welfare teams, as these services are likely to continue to be an important source of support. Providers are not only experts in their student population, but are also best placed to identify the needs of their students.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ukrainian nationals who wish to study at university and who have been granted leave under the (a) Family route and (b) Homes for Ukraine route will have access to student finance.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
The government will look to support Ukrainian students as they reassess their options in the UK.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what date music hubs will be informed of their funding settlement for the 2022-23 financial year.
Answered by Robin Walker
The refreshed National Plan for Music Education will be co-published by the Department for Education and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) later this year. It will shape the future of music education in this country so that more children and young people have access to a good quality music education.
The government appointed an expert panel last summer, which includes experts representing schools, music education hubs, and the music industry. The panel’s remit is to ensure the refreshed plan supports the government’s aims for all young people to have access to a high-quality music education, and opportunities to explore music as far as their interest and talents allow. The government also published the consultation response on music education to inform the refreshed plan. The department is grateful for the panel’s time and expertise.
The department has announced that it will continue to invest around £115 million per annum in cultural education over the next three financial years, through its music, arts and heritage programmes, including music hubs, working closely with DCMS, Arts Council England and others.
The department’s partner organisations, including the Arts Council as the Music Education Hub fundholder, will be updated shortly to confirm funding allocations for the 2022/23 financial year, following the outcome of the department’s business planning.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the remit is of the expert panel working on the refreshed national plan for music education.
Answered by Robin Walker
The refreshed National Plan for Music Education will be co-published by the Department for Education and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) later this year. It will shape the future of music education in this country so that more children and young people have access to a good quality music education.
The government appointed an expert panel last summer, which includes experts representing schools, music education hubs, and the music industry. The panel’s remit is to ensure the refreshed plan supports the government’s aims for all young people to have access to a high-quality music education, and opportunities to explore music as far as their interest and talents allow. The government also published the consultation response on music education to inform the refreshed plan. The department is grateful for the panel’s time and expertise.
The department has announced that it will continue to invest around £115 million per annum in cultural education over the next three financial years, through its music, arts and heritage programmes, including music hubs, working closely with DCMS, Arts Council England and others.
The department’s partner organisations, including the Arts Council as the Music Education Hub fundholder, will be updated shortly to confirm funding allocations for the 2022/23 financial year, following the outcome of the department’s business planning.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many times the expert advisory panel on music education has met since it was formed in August 2021.
Answered by Robin Walker
On 6 August, the government announced plans to work with a panel of experts from across the music education sector to develop a refreshed national plan for music education. This will shape the future of music education in this country, so that more children and young people have access to a good quality music education. The refreshed plan will be published early next year.
The announcement follows the publication of the non-statutory Model Music Curriculum in March, and the publication of the music education consultation report published in August, based on responses to the call for evidence to inform the refreshed plan and conducted between February and March 2020.
The advisory panel includes teachers and representatives from the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and UK Music, as well as Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, whose independent Review of Music Education in England informed the original national plan. To date, the panel have met on three occasions.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he will publish his National Plan for Music Education.
Answered by Robin Walker
On 6 August, the government announced plans to work with a panel of experts from across the music education sector to develop a refreshed national plan for music education. This will shape the future of music education in this country, so that more children and young people have access to a good quality music education. The refreshed plan will be published early next year.
The announcement follows the publication of the non-statutory Model Music Curriculum in March, and the publication of the music education consultation report published in August, based on responses to the call for evidence to inform the refreshed plan and conducted between February and March 2020.
The advisory panel includes teachers and representatives from the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and UK Music, as well as Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, whose independent Review of Music Education in England informed the original national plan. To date, the panel have met on three occasions.