Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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 reductions in funding for level seven apprenticeships on the availability of Chartered Town Planners in local government.
Answered by Janet Daby
I refer the hon. Member for Salisbury to the answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23140.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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 reductions in funding for level seven healthcare apprenticeships on the availability of Advanced Clinical Practitioners in the NHS.
Answered by Janet Daby
The government is committed to spreading opportunities and economic growth, supported by a strong skills system.
This government has an extremely challenging fiscal inheritance. There are tough choices that need to be taken on how funding should be prioritised in order to generate opportunities for young people that enable them to make a start in good, fulfilling careers, and the department will therefore be asking more employers to step forward and fund a significant number of level 7 apprenticeships themselves outside of the levy-funded Growth and Skills offer.
The department has received a wide range of representations, which it is currently considering. These have been received directly and via Skills England, which has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on this matter and has shared its findings with the department.
The department recognises the importance of providing clarity as soon as possible on future funding for level 7 apprenticeships and will communicate next steps in due course.
The department also continues to work across government to tackle the skills needs of different sectors, including addressing the skills gaps in the health and social care industry which were identified in Skills England’s first report on driving growth and widening opportunities.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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 reductions in funding for level seven healthcare apprenticeships on the delivery of the NHS long-term workforce plan.
Answered by Janet Daby
The government is committed to spreading opportunities and economic growth, supported by a strong skills system.
This government has an extremely challenging fiscal inheritance. There are tough choices that need to be taken on how funding should be prioritised in order to generate opportunities for young people that enable them to make a start in good, fulfilling careers, and the department will therefore be asking more employers to step forward and fund a significant number of level 7 apprenticeships themselves outside of the levy-funded Growth and Skills offer.
The department has received a wide range of representations, which it is currently considering. These have been received directly and via Skills England, which has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on this matter and has shared its findings with the department.
The department recognises the importance of providing clarity as soon as possible on future funding for level 7 apprenticeships and will communicate next steps in due course.
The department also continues to work across government to tackle the skills needs of different sectors, including addressing the skills gaps in the health and social care industry which were identified in Skills England’s first report on driving growth and widening opportunities.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) direct ministerial and (b) other public appointments to her Department and associated bodies have (i) been (A) removed from their posts and (B) asked to resign and (ii) made since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Janet Daby
Since 4 July 2024, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education directly appointed Richard Pennycook as the Interim Chair of Skills England
There have also been two public appointments made by exception over this period:
Details of these exceptional public appointments and all other regulated public appointments at the department can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-education-non-executive-appointments/appointments-made-april-2024-to-march-2025.
None of the department’s ministerial or public appointees have been removed from their posts or asked to resign over this period.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people, other than special advisers, have been appointed in civil servant posts without open competition since 4 July 2024; what their (a) job titles and (b) salary bands are; and on what basis each was appointed.
Answered by Janet Daby
The department has appointed four individuals to civil servant posts since 4 July 2024. Further details of the appointments can be seen in the attached spreadsheet.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the (a) pay band, (b) salary and (c) responsibilities are of Mr Tom Crick in his role as Senior Advisor to her Department's Curriculum and Assessment Review; whether that role was open to external candidates; and on what basis he was appointed as a civil servant rather than a special adviser.
Answered by Janet Daby
The role of the Senior Adviser to the Curriculum and Assessment Review is to support the Review Group and its Chair, Professor Becky Francis, in their engagement with the education sector to develop proposals on how best to refresh the curriculum to ensure it is cutting edge, fit for purpose and meeting the needs of children and young people to support their future life and work.
The role was a direct appointment to the civil service to a grade below the Senior Civil Service for a fixed term and with no line management responsibilities.
Making a direct appointment ensured appointment at pace with someone with a unique combination of skills including a strong connection to the sector and alignment with the anticipated time period of the review. As a civil servant, the role is embedded within departmental line management and wider policies, for example the Civil Service Code.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps this Government is taking to promote British values.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell
Education plays a vital role in promoting integration and ensuring children and young people are prepared for life in modern Britain, including learning about the values that underpin and unite our society. All schools have specific duties to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of their pupils and to prepare them for the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life. Schools are also required to actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. The department has issued guidance for maintained schools here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a758c9540f0b6397f35f469/SMSC_Guidance_Maintained_Schools.pdf.
The duty is also reflected in guidance for independent schools (including academies) on compliance with the Independent Schools Standards. The guidance provides that schools should encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes. It can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5cd3fc2fe5274a3fd6ee74b0/Independent_School_Standards-_Guidance_070519.pdf.
Promotion of these values plays an important role in preparing our children and young people for life in a modern and diverse Britain. The department continues to provide free resources for teachers and school leaders to support them with this via our Educate Against Hate website, which can be found here: https://www.educateagainsthate.com/.