Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress she has made on the aim of 90 per cent of primary school children in England achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government is committed to improving outcomes for all pupils. The Government has successfully driven up standards over the past decade. In 2010, only 68% of schools were rated good or outstanding, compared to 88% today.
Primary aged children in England came 4th out of the 43 countries in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, with an average score of 558. This was significantly above the International Median of 520 and significantly higher than all countries except for Singapore, Hong Kong and Russia.
Alongside this international picture, the Department continues to deliver the proposals set out in the Schools White Paper, including the headline attainment ambitions for 2030. These include 90% of pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 2, and the average grade in GCSE English language and mathematics increasing from 4.5 to 5. Since publishing the White Paper, the Department has worked to deliver its commitments and has made progress towards the headline ambitions for 2030. Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has affected pupils, the Department is taking robust action to drive up attainment, with evidence showing progress is being made.
At Key Stage 2 in the 2021/22 academic year, attainment in reading, writing and mathematics (combined) decreased compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019 at both the expected and higher standard. Despite this, recent data from the Education Policy Institute and Rising Stars/Hodder Education shows that for primary age pupils, most year groups have either caught up in English and mathematics or are now on average 1 to 1.5 months behind pre-pandemic levels. This contrasts with studies conducted during the pandemic where learning loss in reading and mathematics was typically estimated to have peaked at around 2.5 to 3.5 months for primary age pupils.
At Key Stage 4 in the 2021/22 academic year, 49.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or higher in both English and mathematics. This is an increase of 6.6 percentage points (from 43.2%) in comparison with 2018/19.
The Department continues to deliver ambitious multiyear education recovery funding. This has provided almost £5 billion for teachers, staff training, tutoring and additional teaching time, as well as providing funding directly to schools. It is targeted especially at those that need the most help the most quickly. This funding is making a difference in helping pupils to catch up, with over 3 million courses started through the National Tutoring Programme since it began in November 2020. We can see that recovery is taking place, but we know that there is more to do.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress she has made on the aim of increasing the average GCSE grade at Key Stage 4 in English language and maths from 4.5 to 5.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government is committed to improving outcomes for all pupils. The Government has successfully driven up standards over the past decade. In 2010, only 68% of schools were rated good or outstanding, compared to 88% today.
Primary aged children in England came 4th out of the 43 countries in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, with an average score of 558. This was significantly above the International Median of 520 and significantly higher than all countries except for Singapore, Hong Kong and Russia.
Alongside this international picture, the Department continues to deliver the proposals set out in the Schools White Paper, including the headline attainment ambitions for 2030. These include 90% of pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 2, and the average grade in GCSE English language and mathematics increasing from 4.5 to 5. Since publishing the White Paper, the Department has worked to deliver its commitments and has made progress towards the headline ambitions for 2030. Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has affected pupils, the Department is taking robust action to drive up attainment, with evidence showing progress is being made.
At Key Stage 2 in the 2021/22 academic year, attainment in reading, writing and mathematics (combined) decreased compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019 at both the expected and higher standard. Despite this, recent data from the Education Policy Institute and Rising Stars/Hodder Education shows that for primary age pupils, most year groups have either caught up in English and mathematics or are now on average 1 to 1.5 months behind pre-pandemic levels. This contrasts with studies conducted during the pandemic where learning loss in reading and mathematics was typically estimated to have peaked at around 2.5 to 3.5 months for primary age pupils.
At Key Stage 4 in the 2021/22 academic year, 49.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or higher in both English and mathematics. This is an increase of 6.6 percentage points (from 43.2%) in comparison with 2018/19.
The Department continues to deliver ambitious multiyear education recovery funding. This has provided almost £5 billion for teachers, staff training, tutoring and additional teaching time, as well as providing funding directly to schools. It is targeted especially at those that need the most help the most quickly. This funding is making a difference in helping pupils to catch up, with over 3 million courses started through the National Tutoring Programme since it began in November 2020. We can see that recovery is taking place, but we know that there is more to do.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to provide additional support for students who have entered UK schools through the (a) Ukrainian, (b) Hong Kong and (c) Afghanistan resettlement schemes.
Answered by Nick Gibb
All pupils, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to education between the ages of 5 to 16, and are free to apply for a school place at any time.
The Department is clear that the best place for all children to be educated is in school, and that attending school is vital to help newly arrived children integrate as quickly as possible into the communities in which they are living.
The Department has supported arrivals via humanitarian and resettlement schemes through the provision of funding to Local Authorities for all arrivals aged 2 to 18. This funding was paid in the 2022/23 financial year for those who arrived via the Homes for Ukraine scheme and in both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years for those who arrived from Afghanistan and lived in bridging accommodation. Further details are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-for-ukraine-education-and-childcare-funding, and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-resettlement-education-grant.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether BNO passport holders can apply for their British born children to have a temporary travel document from her Department for the purposes of travelling to Hong Kong.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The eligibility criteria for obtaining a Home Office travel document is set out on the relevant Gov.uk pages: Apply for a Home Office travel document: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Whether the child would be entitled to obtain a document would depend on their individual circumstances in line with the eligibility criteria. Consideration would be given as to whether they were able to obtain a British National (Overseas) passport or similar by virtue of their parent’s status, taking into account the Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1986.
If they do qualify and can obtain a BNO passport status, then it is unlikely that they would be eligible for a Home Office Travel Document.
They can apply for a document to travel outside the UK, including Hong Kong if:
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 24 March (HL6373), why, over the past 13 years, they have allowed the UK to have a "broken asylum system".
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The significant increase in dangerous journeys across the Channel is placing unprecedented strain on our asylum system. Those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach rather than risking their lives or paying people smugglers to make the dangerous journey across the Channel.
The UK has a proud history of supporting refugees and since 2015, we have offered a place to just under half a million men, women and children seeking safety – including those from Hong Kong, Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, as well as family members of refugees
Our focus will remain on helping people directly from regions of conflict and instability, as the best way to help the most vulnerable who are at risk of war and persecution is through safe and legal routes.
This bypasses the evil criminal gangs and protects vulnerable people, including children.
Asked by: Lord Leong (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are offering to people from Hong Kong who have come to the UK under the British National Overseas (BNO) visa to help them take up teaching positions.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
From 1 February 2023, teachers who are already qualified and recognised as teachers in Hong Kong are able to apply to have their qualification recognised with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England, without additional training. This means that they can apply for teaching roles that require QTS.
For those looking to train to teach in physics and languages, bursaries worth up to £27,000 and scholarships worth up to £29,000 are available, including to those with a British National (Overseas) visa.
For those who are considering coming to England, we have introduced an international relocation payment worth up to £10,000 to help overseas physics and language teachers and trainees, including those from Hong Kong, to relocate.
Schools looking to complete safeguarding checks in order to employ teachers from Hong Kong can currently provide assistance to these individuals with a letter which can be used to apply for a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction from the Hong Kong authorities. Our statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, also sets out alternative safeguarding processes that schools can follow. This can be found attached.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are any circumstances in which it is currently possible for refugees to claim asylum from within the UK other than for claimants from Ukraine, Afghanistan or Hong Kong who apply under the relevant time-limited schemes.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
In addition to dedicated resettlement schemes for Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine, the UK welcomes refugees and people in need of protection through the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship, Family Reunion, and Mandate Resettlement Schemes.
Any person who is not a British Citizen can claim asylum in the UK as long as they meet the requirements to do so, as set out in the Immigration Rules and published policy.
A claim for asylum from an adult who is not a British Citizen will be accepted where they make a particularised protection claim in person at a designated location. If they have previously applied for asylum, they would be required to submit new evidence under the further submissions process. A particularise protection claim refers to them providing a basic reason why they fear persecution or serious harm.
In the case of children claiming asylum, there is no requirement to particularise a protection claim when they register their claim.
A self-declared refugee or someone who has been recognised as a refugee by another country or the UNHCR would not be excluded from claiming asylum. If refugee status has been provided by another country or the UNHCR, that will be taken into consideration when the claim is decided.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to help protect people who have fled from (a) Hong Kong, (b) Taiwan and (c) authoritarian regimes.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
On 31 January 2021 the UK Government opened the BN(O) route for BN(O) status holders in Hong Kong. As of 30 September, over 1️4️4️,0️0️0️ visas been granted so far on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route (BN(O)). The route gives them and their eligible family members the opportunity to live, study and work in the UK on a pathway to citizenship. On 30 November 2022 the BN(O) route was expanded to allow the adult children of BN(O) status holders who were born on or after 1 July 1997 and are aged 18 or over the ability to apply to the route independently of their BN(O) parents. They will need to meet all remaining requirements of the route.
Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will make it its policy to issue travel documents to children born in the UK to parents from Hong Kong on the British National (Overseas) visa so that those families are not required to enter Chinese consulate grounds.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The Home Office does not have plans to issue travel documents to children of parents on the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route.
Individuals arriving in the UK must produce a valid passport with a photograph or some other document, which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality, if required to do so by a Border Force officer. Individuals who wish to travel outside the UK will need to comply with the entry requirements of the country they wish to enter, which may require a valid travel document to establish their identity and nationality.
It remains the case that those who hold a HKSAR passport and wish to travel to and from the UK will need to renew that passport or arrange for alternative documentation. The UK cannot assist with the renewal of passports of other nationalities.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has taken recent steps with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that children of refugees are able to access (a) schools and (b) colleges.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
The department has contributed to the Home Office welcome pack for adults, who have recently been granted refugee or Humanitarian Protection status, to support them in applying for a place at school or college. The pack has been translated into several languages. The department has also contributed similar information to specific welcome packs for arrivals from Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine.
The department provides online resources for local authorities and schools which makes it clear that refugees and asylum seeker children and young adults have a right to access schools and colleges. Local authorities are required to ensure all children living in their areas receive an appropriate education.