Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of planned changes to school budgets set out in the new National Funding Formula on the level of attainment in internal and external assessments of children who qualify for free school meals.
Answered by Nick Gibb
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools her Department consulted on the planned changes to school budgets set out in the new National Funding Formula.
Answered by Nick Gibb
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many representations her Department has had from head teachers (a) in favour of and (b) against the changes in funding for school budgets in the new National Funding Formula.
Answered by Nick Gibb
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2017 to Question 59416 on Maria Strizzolo, what circumstances created an urgent need; and what specific skills Ms Strizzolo possessed which qualified her appointment under Exception 1 of the Civil Service Commissioner's recruitment principles.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Maria Strizzolo possessed the specific skills required for the post which were to be able to work effectively with external partners and have strong organisational skills. While these skills did exist in the Skills Funding Agency, they were already being utilised fully and there was a short term need for additional staff with these skills. The post filled was therefore temporary and filled on that basis, in line with Exception 1 of the Civil Service Commissioner’s recruitment principles.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many times the selection exemptions of the Civil Service Commissioner's recruitment principles were used by her Department in each year since 2010; and at what grades each such appointment was made.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Civil Service Commissioners’ recruitment principles do not include selection exemptions.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many times the selection exemptions of the Civil Service Commissioner's recruitment principles were used by the Skills Funding Agency in each year since 2010; and at what grades each such appointment was made.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Civil Service Commissioners’ recruitment principles do not include selection exemptions.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the employment contract and job description for the post Ms Maria Strizzolo held at her Department.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Ms Strizzolo was recruited to a role providing secretariat support for the Apprenticeship Delivery Board (ADB). Her key responsibilities included translating policy and strategy into operation plans; planning and managing commissioned projects and events; the provision of governance for the ADB which included developing, implementing and monitoring Board membership; monitoring progress against plans; and developing communication and event plans.
Ms Strizzolo was on a temporary Skills and Funding Agency (SFA) Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) contract covering maternity leave, but it would not be appropriate for the Department to publish information which is personal between an employer and employee.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the job description is for a senior manager in the Skills Funding Agency.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The attached job description highlights the skills, knowledge and experience required to hold a senior manager position within the Skills Funding Agency.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what skills, knowledge and experience is required to hold a senior manager post in the Skills Funding Agency.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The attached job description highlights the skills, knowledge and experience required to hold a senior manager position within the Skills Funding Agency.
Asked by: Helen Goodman (Labour - Bishop Auckland)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the process was for Ms Maria Strizzolo's appointment to the Skills Funding Agency.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The individual concerned was recruited to a temporary maternity cover role in the Skills Funding Agency on a one-year contract. The recruitment fell under Exception 1 of the Civil Service Commissioner’s recruitment principles which covers temporary appointments to fulfil an urgent need for specific skills.