Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Josh MacAlister and Laura Kyrke-Smith

Monday 22nd June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury) (Lab)]

10. What steps she is taking to improve further education pathways.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Josh MacAlister)]

As detailed in “Post-16 pathways: implementation plan”, we are creating coherent pathways, aligning learning with the skills that employers need and improving progression. New V-levels, the expansion and improvement of T-levels, and clearer level 2 pathways will support young people’s progression to higher study, apprenticeships or employment.

[Laura Kyrke-Smith]

Every time I have been to Buckinghamshire College Group in Aylesbury I have met fantastic staff who bring decades of professional experience to their roles and have a deep commitment to the young people. However, many further education colleges, including ours, are struggling with staff recruitment and retention, in part because staff pay is higher in schools. As we do this brilliant work to expand technical education opportunities through FE colleges, what steps is the Minister taking to ensure that FE staff salaries are competitive and that FE colleges can continue to attract the best talent out there?