Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has plans to respond to the recommendations of the project on flexible learning published by the CBI and Universities UK on 26 October 2018.

The Review of Post-18 Education and Funding is considering how to further encourage learning that is more flexible, like part-time, distance learning and commuter study options. We do not plan to respond specifically to the recommendations of the CBI and Universities UK project.We know that studying part-time and later in life can bring considerable benefits for individuals, employers and the wider economy.

We have already adopted a number of measures to support part-time students. This academic year, for example, part-time students will – for the first time ever – be able to access full-time equivalent maintenance loans.

The Office for Students also targets an element of the Teaching Grant to recognise the additional costs of part-time study. In 2017/18 £72 million was made available, and the same amount was allocated in 2018/19 for this purpose.

The government launched a review of Level 4–5 education in October 2017 to examine how classroom-based level 4 and 5 education, particularly technical education, meets the needs of learners and employers. The Level 4–5 review and the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding will work closely together to ensure a coherent vision for Further and Higher Education.