Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Construction Technical Excellence Colleges will begin operating; and whether any are already in operation.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
In August 2025, the government appointed ten Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTECs), one in each region of England and a tenth operating cross-nationally. Backed by £100 million in funding, CTECs will deliver high quality construction skills, supporting our mission to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament, and creating well-paid jobs nationwide in the construction sector. Launched at the start of this academic year, CTECs have begun their delivery of specialist skills, working with national and local construction employers to ensure critical construction skills needs are met now and in future years. To ensure benefits are widespread throughout each region, CTECs are operating under a ‘hub and spoke model’, collaborating with and supporting further education construction skills providers across their region.
Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to monitor progress toward the target of training 40,000 construction learners by 2029 through the Construction Technical Excellence Colleges.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Ten Construction Technical Excellence Colleges (CTECs) have commenced their delivery of high quality construction skills provision from the start of this academic year. 40,000 construction learners will benefit from excellent teaching and curricula to set them up with the skills for well-paid jobs in the construction sector. The department is working with CTECs, mayoral strategic authorities, and other partners in the skills system to understand best practice in delivering quality construction skills in alignment with the Technical Excellence Colleges core objectives and we will monitor progress against these on a regular basis.
Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many state school students took four A levels including maths, further maths, and at least one subject qualifying for the high value course premium in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those students were female.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The data requested is below.
Time Period | Sex | Number of Students | Proportion (%) |
2023/24 | Male | 5,119 | 74.8 |
2023/24 | Female | 1,722 | 25.2 |
2022/23 | Male | 4,121 | 74.2 |
2022/23 | Female | 1,430 | 25.8 |
2021/22 | Male | 3,800 | 73.9 |
2021/22 | Female | 1,345 | 26.1 |
2020/21 | Male | 4,328 | 73.9 |
2020/21 | Female | 1,528 | 26.1 |
2019/20 | Male | 3,702 | 73.9 |
2019/20 | Female | 1,305 | 26.1 |
Notes about the data:
Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what protocols exist for (a) her Department and (b) the Office for Students when approached by (i) universities and (ii) lenders regarding (A) university financial difficulties, (B) debt arrangements and (C) lending terms.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department does not intervene directly in negotiations between universities and banks. As independent institutions, universities are responsible for managing their own finances. We do of course regularly meet both with providers and banks to discuss the finances of higher education institutions. However, it is important these discussions are kept confidential.
The processes and protocols of the Office for Students (OfS) are a matter for them. In the first instance, providers should speak to the OfS where they have identified financial risk.
Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what involvement (a) her Department and (b) the Office for Students have had in discussions between universities and their commercial lenders on (i) university debt arrangements, (ii) financial sustainability and (iii) lending terms since 2022.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department does not intervene directly in negotiations between universities and banks. As independent institutions, universities are responsible for managing their own finances. We do of course regularly meet both with providers and banks to discuss the finances of higher education institutions. However, it is important these discussions are kept confidential.
The processes and protocols of the Office for Students (OfS) are a matter for them. In the first instance, providers should speak to the OfS where they have identified financial risk.
Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on how many occasions (a) her Department and (b) the Office for Students has participated in discussions with commercial lenders on university (i) debt arrangements and (ii) financial sustainability since 2022.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department does not intervene directly in negotiations between universities and banks. As independent institutions, universities are responsible for managing their own finances. We do of course regularly meet both with providers and banks to discuss the finances of higher education institutions. However, it is important these discussions are kept confidential.
The processes and protocols of the Office for Students (OfS) are a matter for them. In the first instance, providers should speak to the OfS where they have identified financial risk.
Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many state school students took the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those students were female.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The data requested is below. Data relating to 2024/25 will be available in February 2026.
The number and proportion of state-funded student entries for international baccalaureate by sex
Time Period | Sex | Number of State-Funded Students | Proportion (%) |
2023/24 | Female | 764 | 55.9 |
2023/24 | Male | 602 | 44.1 |
2022/23 | Female | 661 | 55.8 |
2022/23 | Male | 524 | 44.2 |
2021/22 | Female | 772 | 57.3 |
2021/22 | Male | 574 | 42.6 |
2020/21 | Female | 763 | 59.5 |
2020/21 | Male | 519 | 40.5 |
2019/20 | Female | 737 | 58.5 |
2019/20 | Male | 522 | 41.5 |
*Source: A level and other 16 to 18 results
*Coverage: All institutions, England
To note regarding the data:
Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support access to a broad curriculum for state pupils.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The Review wants to ensure a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work. It is also looking closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, and the barriers which hold children back from the opportunities and life chances they deserve.
The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published shortly with the government’s response.
Asked by: Ian Sollom (Liberal Democrat - St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing funding for International Baccalaureate qualifications on the range of (a) subjects and (b) educational choices available to state school pupils.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire to the answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 83028.