Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Chemistry Technical Colleges have been approved since May 2010.
Answered by Edward Timpson
Thirty university technical colleges (UTCs) have opened since 2010. A further 31 are in the pipeline.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's report on Improving Permanence for Looked After Children, published in September 2013, what assessment she has made of the evidence from case studies cited on page 40 of that report, that local authorities can make significant financial savings through effective support for a child returning home from care; and if she will take full account of that evidence in her forthcoming response to the consultation on looked-after children.
Answered by Edward Timpson
In 2013 the Department for Education consulted on a range of proposals to improve permanence for looked after children. The Department will take into account a range of evidence, including the financial case for improved practice in local authorities, to deciding how best to proceed and will publish a formal response later this year. The Government has also commissioned the National Children’s Bureau and the Centre for Child and Family Research at Loughborough University to deliver an action research project. The project is working with frontline practitioners and families to support improved practice in returning children home, and includes a focus on developing cost-effective services that help support children to return home successfully from care.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what conclusions he has drawn from the 3D Printer Project Report for enriching teaching across STEM and Design subjects in schools.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The schools involved in the 2012-13 pilot 3D Printer Project explored innovative ways of teaching STEM subjects, stimulating pupil interest and enriching the curriculum. Participating schools explored the potential benefits and challenges of using this technology in the curriculum and some shared their experiences with other schools wishing to introduce 3D printers. As set out in the report, feedback confirmed that 3D printers have significant potential as a teaching resource and can have a positive impact on pupil engagement and learning.
In October the Secretary of State for Education commissioned a further 3D Printer Project, working with the Design and Technology Association and 42 teaching school alliances, to further develop our understanding of the educational opportunities offered by 3D printers. Like the pilot project, it is exploring new ways of teaching STEM subjects using a 3D printer, but with an emphasis on using it in ways that enhance learning over other approaches. The schools involved will develop and deliver continuous professional development (CPD) on using a 3D printer to teach STEM subjects to teachers across their teaching school alliances. We plan to make the best of the STEM teaching and CPD resources developed by the participants available to schools across England.