Asked by: Stephen Timms (Labour - East Ham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to launch Alternative Student Finance for Muslim students.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The department understands the concerns held by some Muslim students and their families about student finance. We want all learners with the potential to benefit from higher education to be able to do so. The department remains committed to delivering an alternative student finance (ASF) product for Muslim students.
Going forward, the department is introducing a Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) that will significantly change the ways students can access learning and financial support.
The department's consultation on the detail and scope of the LLE closed in May 2022. In this consultation, the department sought views on what barriers learners with protected characteristics might face in accessing or drawing on their LLE, noting that answers to this question could include consideration of an ASF product for students whose faith has resulted in concerns about traditional loans. We are currently considering if and how ASF can be delivered as part of the LLE.
We will provide a further update on ASF as part of the government response to the LLE consultation.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support lifelong learning and access to education in the UK.
Answered by Robert Halfon
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
The government is investing £1.6 billion through the National Skills Fund over the next three years, to help adults gain the skills that are sought by employers. The fund will make sure adults, at any age, can upskill to reach their potential and transform their lives.
As part of this investment, we have introduced the Free Courses for Jobs scheme, which enables learners without a level 3 qualification, or learners with any qualification level who are unemployed or earning below the National Living Wage, to gain a level 3 qualification for free.
Those who want to upskill in their role, are looking for a job, or are changing career, can take part in Skills Bootcamps. Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with an employer. Skills Bootcamps are currently available across England, offering training in digital, technical (including engineering and manufacturing), construction, logistics (HGV driving), and green skills (including heat pump engineer and electric vehicle charging point installation), and have the potential to transform the skills landscape for adults and employers.
We are on track to deliver 16,000 Skills Bootcamps training places in the 2021/22 financial year. The department will continue to significantly expand Skills Bootcamps further following the announcement of up to £550 million additional funding across financial years 2022 to 2025, including up to £150 million in financial year 2022/23.
The department is continuing to invest in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Education Budget (AEB). The AEB fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. In the academic year 2022/23 this funding totals £1.34 billion.
Apprenticeships are accessible to people of all ages and can support people to re-train and upskill throughout their lives. We are increasing investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/25.
In November 2021, the department issued guidance to the Office for Students, tasking them to refocus the access and participation regime to create a system that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds throughout their education. Higher education providers should be working meaningfully with schools to ensure that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged and supported to achieve the highest possible grades to succeed, whether that be an apprenticeship or higher technical qualification, or a course at another university.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she will take to increase re-skilling opportunities for adults.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The government is investing £3.8 billion more in further education and skills over the Parliament, to ensure people have access to skills to build a fulfilling career in jobs the economy needs.
The department has transformed apprenticeships by, driving up quality, better meeting the skill’s needs of employers through more flexible training models and offering opportunities to individuals to start and progress in their careers. The department is also increasing investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/25.
The department is also investing in re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities to make sure adults, at any age, can upskill to reach their potential, transforming lives and delivering on the National Skills Fund commitment. As part of this investment, we have introduced the Free Courses for Jobs scheme, which enables learners without a level 3 qualification, or learners with any qualification level but earning below the National Living Wage, to gain a qualification for free.
In addition, learners who want to upskill in their role, are looking for work, or are changing career can take part in Skills Bootcamps. These are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with an employer.
As part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, the government has previously committed to introducing the Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) from 2025. The LLE will provide individuals with a loan entitlement to the equivalent of four years of post-18 education (£37,000 in today’s fees) to use over their lifetime. This will be available for both modules and full courses at higher technical and degree levels (levels 4 to 6), regardless of whether they are provided in colleges or universities. The LLE will support study throughout a learner’s life, with the opportunity to train, retrain and upskill as needed in response to changing skills needs and employment patterns.
The department is promoting and increasing awareness of our skills provision to learners and employers through the Skills for Life campaign, which targets employers, young people, and adults. Our campaign toolkits provide more information and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/skills-campaign-toolkits.
The department continues to invest in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Education Budget (AEB). £1.34 billion was invested in the 2021/22 academic year. The AEB fully funds, or co-funds, skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3. This is to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.
Currently, approximately 60% of the AEB is devolved to nine Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and the Mayor of London, acting where appropriate through the Greater London Authority (GLA). Devolution of the AEB gives MCAs and the GLA direct control over adult education provision for their residents and provides local areas the opportunity to meet local needs.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency is responsible for the remaining AEB in non-devolved areas where colleges, local authorities and other providers have the freedom and flexibility to determine how they use their AEB funding, to best meet the needs of their communities.
Asked by: Emma Hardy (Labour - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) qualifications are available to Armed Forces personnel that are recognised outside the services, (b) proportion of personnel leave the Forces with one or more such qualifications and (c) assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing that proportion.
Answered by Sarah Atherton
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises the value of a skilled, sustainable, capable workforce, trained and equipped to defend the nation’s interests. To achieve this, Defence policy directs that, where possible, all mandatory military training and education is accredited and leads towards a full or partial nationally recognised qualification. Due to the niche content of some Defence courses, it is recognised that an externally recognised qualification may not always be possible. In such cases, individuals may ‘top up’ their learning enabling them to achieve a full qualification through a combination of accreditation and additional learning
Over 600 nationally recognised qualifications are delivered to Service Personnel across the single services from level 1 to level 8 on the regulated qualifications framework. Qualifications cover a wide range of subject areas including aviation, engineering, IT, leadership, and medical. Further opportunities for obtaining qualifications in service are available the single services and the MOD’s elective education schemes.
The largest area for qualification attainment is the Armed Forces Apprenticeship Programme. Over 95% of all non-commissioned recruits commence an apprenticeship as part of their trade training, with over 20,000 Service personnel on an apprenticeship at any one time. Where an apprenticeship is not available an alternative appropriate nationally recognised qualification is offered. As part of their programme, all recruits will achieve at least L1 Maths and English Functional Skills, with higher levels required for promotion.
The MOD has recently undertaken a Defence wide accreditation review, which highlights the MOD’s commitment to lifelong learning of its Service Personnel. It is envisaged that findings and recommendations from the review will further improve the accreditation and qualification offer across Defence.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Answer of 20 October 2021 to Question 57279, what further consideration her Department has given to establishing a Takaful-based funding structure for financial support for students in higher and further education.
Answered by Andrea Jenkyns
The department remains committed to delivering an Alternative Student Finance (ASF) product compatible with Islamic finance principles. We want all learners with the potential to benefit from a higher education to be able to do so.
We are introducing a Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE), which will significantly change the ways students can access learning and financial support. We are currently considering if and how ASF can be delivered as part of the LLE.
We believe it is sensible to align future delivery of an ASF product with these major reforms to ensure fair treatment for all students.
Asked by: Lord Johnson of Marylebone (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the extent to which the requirement that institutions seeking Degree Awarding Powers (DAPs) should have more than 50 per cent of their students studying at Level 6 or above is holding back the development of higher technical qualifications at Level 4 and Level 5.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Office for Students (OfS) published its response to its consultation on the quality and standards conditions on 2 March. This publication acknowledges that several issues were raised during the consultation about requirements on institutions seeking Degree Awarding Powers (DAPs).
We are expecting the OfS to consider a review of DAPs in the coming financial year and expect that review to consider the case for intervention in the DAPs to increase the availability of high-quality courses across England.
In addition, it is a key government priority to grow level 4 and 5 provision. We are doing more to support level 4 and 5 provision by raising the profile and prestige of level 4 and 5 courses through improved communications and information, advice, and guidance, including through the launch of a new national communications campaign in January 2022. We will also Introduce the Lifelong Learning Entitlement from 2025 to support a more accessible, flexible system.
The department will be continuing to roll out reforms to higher technical education to ensure that, over time, Higher Technical Qualifications (qualifications approved to deliver the skills employers need) are established as a flagship offer at level 4 and 5, including improving student finance to support learners in accessing these qualifications. Providing further funding to support providers with the upfront investments required to roll out Higher Technical Qualifications and strategic priorities grant funding to encourage and support level 4 and 5 provision.
Through the higher education reform consultation we are also seeking views on the role of the fees and funding system in growing provision and uptake of level 4 and 5 courses.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to ensure that education recovery includes a focus on speaking and understanding language.
Answered by Robin Walker
Overall direct investment announced for education recovery is almost £5 billion. The £1.8 billion provides for over £800 million for extra time for 16–19-year-olds and £1 billion direct funding to schools to extend the recovery premium.
The department understands that the early years are the most crucial point of child development. Attending early education lays the foundation for lifelong learning and supports children’s social and emotional development. Therefore, as part of education recovery funding, the department is investing £180 million of recovery support in the early years sector. This includes £153 million for evidence-based professional development for early years practitioners, including through new programmes focusing on key areas such as speech and language development for the youngest children; up to £10 million for a second phase of the Early Years Professional Development Programme in the 2021/22 academic year targeted to support early years staff in settings to work with disadvantaged children; and up to £17 million for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI).
NELI is a proven programme aimed at the reception aged children needing extra support with their speech and language development and is proven to help children make around three months of additional progress. Two thirds of primary schools have signed up, the majority of these being schools with the highest levels of disadvantage, reaching an estimated 90,000 children.
Building on the pupil premium, the recovery premium is helping schools to deliver evidence-based approaches to support education recovery for disadvantaged pupils aged 5-16. In October 2021 as part of the department’s broader spending review settlement the department announced an extension to the recovery premium worth £1 billion for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years.
Schools are expected to spend this premium on evidence-based approaches to supporting pupils, addressing education recovery related needs of disadvantaged pupils. This can include immediate steps such as assessing and addressing needs once pupils return to class, or longer-term strategic improvement such as improving teaching quality. Also, if schools judge that additional support is needed for speaking and understanding of language is required, they can dedicate resource to this, in the same way that they can for interventions for other parts of the curriculum.
In line with the Education Endowment Foundation’s pupil premium guide, activities should include those that support the quality of teaching, such as staff professional development or Speech and Language Therapists; provide targeted academic support, such as tutoring; and tackle non-academic barriers to success in school, such as attendance, behavior, and social and emotional support. Further information on this guide can be found here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/guidance-for-teachers/using-pupil-premium.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department is providing to children with difficulties in speaking and understanding as part of the roll out of the £1.8 billion Education Recovery Package announced in the Spending Review 2021.
Answered by Robin Walker
Overall direct investment announced for education recovery is almost £5 billion. The £1.8 billion provides for over £800 million for extra time for 16–19-year-olds and £1 billion direct funding to schools to extend the recovery premium.
The department understands that the early years are the most crucial point of child development. Attending early education lays the foundation for lifelong learning and supports children’s social and emotional development. Therefore, as part of education recovery funding, the department is investing £180 million of recovery support in the early years sector. This includes £153 million for evidence-based professional development for early years practitioners, including through new programmes focusing on key areas such as speech and language development for the youngest children; up to £10 million for a second phase of the Early Years Professional Development Programme in the 2021/22 academic year targeted to support early years staff in settings to work with disadvantaged children; and up to £17 million for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI).
NELI is a proven programme aimed at the reception aged children needing extra support with their speech and language development and is proven to help children make around three months of additional progress. Two thirds of primary schools have signed up, the majority of these being schools with the highest levels of disadvantage, reaching an estimated 90,000 children.
Building on the pupil premium, the recovery premium is helping schools to deliver evidence-based approaches to support education recovery for disadvantaged pupils aged 5-16. In October 2021 as part of the department’s broader spending review settlement the department announced an extension to the recovery premium worth £1 billion for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 academic years.
Schools are expected to spend this premium on evidence-based approaches to supporting pupils, addressing education recovery related needs of disadvantaged pupils. This can include immediate steps such as assessing and addressing needs once pupils return to class, or longer-term strategic improvement such as improving teaching quality. Also, if schools judge that additional support is needed for speaking and understanding of language is required, they can dedicate resource to this, in the same way that they can for interventions for other parts of the curriculum.
In line with the Education Endowment Foundation’s pupil premium guide, activities should include those that support the quality of teaching, such as staff professional development or Speech and Language Therapists; provide targeted academic support, such as tutoring; and tackle non-academic barriers to success in school, such as attendance, behavior, and social and emotional support. Further information on this guide can be found here: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/guidance-for-teachers/using-pupil-premium.
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Lifelong Loan Entitlement, for what reason a student studying a module at level 4 in higher education will be eligible for maintenance support, but an adult wishing to do a full level 3 qualification does not qualify for that support.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) will provide individuals with a loan entitlement to the equivalent of four years of post-18 education to use over their lifetime. It will be available for both modules and full years of study at higher technical and degree levels (levels 4 to 6), regardless of whether they are provided in colleges or universities.
We want to drive a transformative impact on post-18 study, delivering greater parity between further education (FE) and higher education (HE). Under this flexible skills system, people will be able to space out their studies and learn at a pace that is right for them, including choosing to build up their qualifications over time, within both FE and HE providers.
The Skills and post-16 Education Bill modifies my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education’s existing powers to set the levels of loan available to support more modular provision, which could extend across both tuition fee and maintenance support. The LLE is also intended to fund whole courses, or their component modules if taken separately, that meet the necessary regulatory requirements and are provided by or on behalf of a registered provider. We are considering what maintenance loans and student support grants would be available for any study funded through the LLE, as well as how to best support modular study. We will consult on the detail and scope of this in due course. The LLE does not extend to level 3 provision, which is already funded through a number of other funding streams.
The Adult Education Budget (AEB) fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to support adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. This includes a statutory entitlement to full funding for adult learners aged 19-23 undertaking their first full qualification at level 3.
Since 1 April 2021, the National Skills Fund has been supporting any adult who does not have A level equivalent or higher qualifications, to access over 400 fully funded level 3 courses, with Free Courses for Jobs. This offer is a long-term commitment, backed by £95 million from the National Skills Fund in year one. From April, any adult in England earning under the national living wage annually (£18,525) or unemployed, will also be able to access the Free Courses for Jobs offer for free, regardless of their prior qualification level.
Living costs support is not offered to those undertaking level 3 qualifications. General support for those costs is provided for by the Department for Work and Pensions. Through grant funding and a bursary fund for those with an advanced learner loan, colleges and other training providers are able to help adult learners overcome barriers which prevent them from taking part or continuing in learning. This includes:
Asked by: Kate Osborne (Labour - Jarrow)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason the Government is introducing a Lifelong Loan Entitlement for modules and full years of study at levels 4-6 but not at level 3 and below.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) will provide individuals with a loan entitlement to the equivalent of four years of post-18 education to use over their lifetime. It will be available for both modules and full years of study at higher technical and degree levels (levels 4 to 6), regardless of whether they are provided in colleges or universities.
We want to drive a transformative impact on post-18 study, delivering greater parity between further education (FE) and higher education (HE). Under this flexible skills system, people will be able to space out their studies and learn at a pace that is right for them, including choosing to build up their qualifications over time, within both FE and HE providers.
The Skills and post-16 Education Bill modifies my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education’s existing powers to set the levels of loan available to support more modular provision, which could extend across both tuition fee and maintenance support. The LLE is also intended to fund whole courses, or their component modules if taken separately, that meet the necessary regulatory requirements and are provided by or on behalf of a registered provider. We are considering what maintenance loans and student support grants would be available for any study funded through the LLE, as well as how to best support modular study. We will consult on the detail and scope of this in due course. The LLE does not extend to level 3 provision, which is already funded through a number of other funding streams.
The Adult Education Budget (AEB) fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to support adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. This includes a statutory entitlement to full funding for adult learners aged 19-23 undertaking their first full qualification at level 3.
Since 1 April 2021, the National Skills Fund has been supporting any adult who does not have A level equivalent or higher qualifications, to access over 400 fully funded level 3 courses, with Free Courses for Jobs. This offer is a long-term commitment, backed by £95 million from the National Skills Fund in year one. From April, any adult in England earning under the national living wage annually (£18,525) or unemployed, will also be able to access the Free Courses for Jobs offer for free, regardless of their prior qualification level.
Living costs support is not offered to those undertaking level 3 qualifications. General support for those costs is provided for by the Department for Work and Pensions. Through grant funding and a bursary fund for those with an advanced learner loan, colleges and other training providers are able to help adult learners overcome barriers which prevent them from taking part or continuing in learning. This includes: