Asked by: Mike Thornton (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has for the funding of (a) all post-16 education, (b) sixth forms and (c) further education colleges; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Boles
The Education Funding Agency wrote to all 16-19 institutions in October regarding our plans for announcing funding for 2015/16. We plan to confirm the national funding rate for 2015/16 in January 2015, as soon as we have early data on student numbers in 2014/15.
After the national funding rate is confirmed, notification of individual institutions' budgets for 2015/16 (which will be based around the national funding rate) will be sent out in February or March.
The level of funding for education of 16- to 19-year-olds beyond 2015/16 will be subject to the Government’s next spending review.
Asked by: Mike Thornton (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase the number of school places in Hampshire; and what steps she is taking to allow children in Hampshire to walk to school.
Answered by David Laws
It is the responsibility of each local authority to balance the supply and demand for primary and secondary school places in their area and secure a place for every child of statutory age who wants one.
The Department for Education collects information from local authorities on the number of school places in state-funded primary and secondary schools and local authorities’ own pupil forecasts as part of the annual School Capacity Collection. The most recent data available relates to the position at May 2013, with primary forecasts to 2017/18 and secondary forecasts to 2019/20, and is published online at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2012-to-2013
Between 2009/10 and 2012/13, Hampshire Local Authority created 1,290 school places. There are 9,940 new primary places planned for delivery between 2013/14 and 2015/16 and the Department has estimated that Hampshire needs 920 additional primary places to meet anticipated demand in 2015/16. This information, along with technical notes, is published in the Local Authority Basic Need Scorecards, which is published online:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/primary-school-places-local-authority-basic-need-scorecards
The Department provides capital funding to local authorities in line with the estimated level of need in each local authority. Hampshire has been allocated a total of £77.4 million for the period 2011-2015 and a further £11.5 million targeted basic need funding to create additional school places. The local authority has also been allocated £64.7 million for 2015-2017 to provide places needed by September 2017.
Local authorities are under a duty to promote sustainable travel and transport. The duty applies to children and young people of compulsory school age who travel to receive education or training in a local authority’s area. Local walking, cycling, and bus strategies should inform the local authority’s duty to promote sustainable school travel.
Asked by: Mike Thornton (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of cancer awareness education in schools.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Cancer awareness is important for all young people. However, I do not believe that there should be a statutory requirement for it to be taught in schools. The Government aims to reduce prescription throughout the education system, and trusts schools to provide what is best for their students. The Department for Education does not collect data on this topic.
Schools are free to teach cancer awareness when it is relevant to the national curriculum. For example, the science curriculum requires pupils to learn about the effects of drugs on their bodies, and the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle is included in the requirements for physical education. In design and technology, schools may highlight the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet. Schools may include cancer awareness as part of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, using suitable resources from relevant organisations. The PSHE Association has produced a suggested programme of study as guidance for teachers, and continues to highlight other sources of expertise.
Asked by: Mike Thornton (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make cancer awareness education a statutory requirement in schools.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
Cancer awareness is important for all young people. However, I do not believe that there should be a statutory requirement for it to be taught in schools. The Government aims to reduce prescription throughout the education system, and trusts schools to provide what is best for their students. The Department for Education does not collect data on this topic.
Schools are free to teach cancer awareness when it is relevant to the national curriculum. For example, the science curriculum requires pupils to learn about the effects of drugs on their bodies, and the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle is included in the requirements for physical education. In design and technology, schools may highlight the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet. Schools may include cancer awareness as part of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, using suitable resources from relevant organisations. The PSHE Association has produced a suggested programme of study as guidance for teachers, and continues to highlight other sources of expertise.