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  • Adam Afriyie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Adam Afriyie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase awareness of the importance of (a) blood and platelet donation, (b) stem cell donation, (c) bone marrow donation and (d) organ registration among school-aged children.

    Nicola Blackwood

    NHS Blood and Transplant runs donor recruitment campaigns for blood, platelet, stem cell and organ donation throughout the year. Examples include the recently launched Missing Type campaign to promote blood donation; implementation of their Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020: A UK Strategy and management of the NHS Cord Blood Bank and British Bone Marrow Registry, working with Anthony Nolan.

    Specific action addressing awareness of registration among school-aged children includes the introduction of new education resources designed to equip secondary school teachers with the knowledge to educate and engage students about organ donation and working with Anthony Nolan to run the Be a Lifesaver education programme which trains volunteers to educate 16-18 year olds about stem cell, blood and organ donation.

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 11 of the National Audit Office’s report on delivering value through the apprenticeships programme published on 6 September 2016, what steps she is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships to deliver maximum gains for UK economic productivity.

    Robert Halfon

    Apprenticeships are a crucial way to develop the skills needed by employers. There is strong evidence that apprenticeships are already a good prospect for investment in terms of returns to individuals, to businesses and to Government. For each pound the Government invests in Level 2 and Level 3 adult apprenticeships, we receive economic benefits of £26 and £28 respectively over the rest of the learners’ working lives.

    By increasing the quality and quantity of apprenticeships to reach our commitment of 3 million starts in England by 2020, our goal is to secure greater benefits for more apprentices, employers and our economy. To increase numbers and improve access, we are focussing the work of the National Apprenticeships Service on communicating the benefits, and building strong relationships with a wider range of employers and intermediaries.

    The 2020 Vision sets out the key elements of our strategy to further address skills shortages and stimulate economic growth through reforms to apprenticeships. .

    Our strategy gives employers the opportunity to develop new apprenticeship standards to meet the skills needs of their sector. By increasing the relevance and quality of apprenticeships and developing the skills of workers, standards will ensure employers have the opportunity to develop and access the skills they need.

    We are focusing development of apprenticeship standards where employers identify a skills need and demand exists, subject to suitability. In giving employers this freedom, we have seen increased appetite for standards at higher levels, where we know they add the most value. We have also seen standards developed in sectors where they have not been used before, ensuring the benefits are felt across the economy.

  • Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the trends in the level of uptake of (a) creative, (b) artistic and (c) technical subjects at GCSE since June 2015.

    Nick Gibb

    The Department for Education does not define GCSE subjects as ‘technical’ or ‘creative’.

    Provisional information on the proportion of pupils entered for at least one arts GCSE between 2009/10 and 2015/16 is published as part of the ‘Provisional GCSE and equivalent results in England’ statistical first release (SFR)[1].

    [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-results-2015-to-2016-provisional (Table 1c)

    “

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to differentiate between the roles of her Department and the Institute for Apprenticeships on the (a) quality of apprenticeships training and (b) collection and analysis of data.

    Robert Halfon

    From April 2017, the Institute for Apprenticeships will take on a number of functions relating to the quality of apprenticeship standards. The Institute’s key responsibilities will be: to set quality criteria for the development of apprenticeship standards and assessment plans; to review, approve or reject them; to advise on the maximum level of Government funding available for standards; and to quality assure some end point assessments. The Institute will have analytical capability to support its function, advising on funding caps and on other issues where appropriate. Responsibility for monitoring the quality of apprenticeship training will not transfer to the Institute.

    The Department for Education will retain responsibility for the quality framework. Primary responsibility for the collection and analysis of data and metrics for apprenticeships, and the success of the apprenticeship programme, will remain with the Department, particularly through the work of the Skills Funding Agency.

  • Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Lord on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of children who receive free school meals in (a) Woking constituency, (b) Surrey, (c) the South East and (d) the UK have participated in higher education in each year since 2010.

    Joseph Johnson

    Information is given on the number and percentage of students completing Key Stage 5 study (A level and other Level 3 qualifications) in mainstream state-funded schools and colleges, before progressing to study at a UK higher education institution for at least two terms the following year, in each of the last five years for which information is available. Free school meal eligibility is as recorded when students were in Year 11.

    The table below show figures for the Woking constituency for the years 2010/11 to 2014/15. Numbers of pupils are shown rounded to the nearest ten, in line with how published information was shown in these years. Percentages are calculated using unrounded figures.

    In each of the last five years, ten students in the Woking constituency (rounded to the nearest ten), who had been eligible for free school meals in Year 11 and completed Key Stage 5 study, progressed to higher education. This compares to between 180 and 250 students who had not been eligible for free school meals. In 2014/15, this represents 34% of free school meals students and 50% of other students who had completed Key Stage 5 study. Due to the small numbers of students involved, these proportions have varied year on year.

    Comparable information on pupil destinations for b) Surrey, c) the South East and d) England is published annually at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations

    Woking constituency

    Number of students completing KS5

    Number at UK Higher Education Institution

    % at UK Higher Education Institution (calculated on unrounded figures)

    (rounded to nearest 10)

    (rounded to nearest 10)

    FSM

    Non-FSM

    FSM

    Non-FSM

    FSM

    Non-FSM

    2014/15 (2013/14 KS5 cohort)

    30

    510

    10

    250

    34%

    50%

    2013/14 (2012/13 KS5 cohort)

    20

    370

    10

    180

    32%

    49%

    2012/13 (2011/12 KS5 cohort)

    30

    450

    10

    200

    31%

    45%

    2011/12 (2010/11 KS5 cohort)

    20

    450

    10

    230

    61%

    52%

    2010/11 (2009/10 KS5 cohort)

    30

    490

    10

    220

    41%

    45%

    “

  • Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Lord on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children secured a place at their first choice school in (a) Woking constituency, (b) Surrey, (c) the South East and (d) the UK in the latest period for which data is available.

    Edward Timpson

    The Department collects data from local authorities in England on how many parents received an offer of a place for their children at one of their preferred secondary or primary schools based on the respective national offer days.

    The most recent data relate to the start of the 2016/17 academic year. Figures on the number of children who secured a place at their first choice school for the local authority of Surrey, the region of the South East and for England, are outlined below.

    Figures for the UK are not available as Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland run their own separate school application and offer processes.

    Number of applications and first choice offers for entry into primary and secondary school for academic year 2016/17

    Surrey

    South East

    England

    Number of applications for a primary school place

    13,859

    104,635

    641,572

    Of which: number offered their first choice

    11,394

    90,790

    566,836

    Percentage offered their first choice

    82.2

    86.6

    88.4

    Number of applications for a secondary school place

    11,154

    88,724

    548,006

    Of which: number offered their first choice

    9,404

    76,801

    460,836

    Percentage offered their first choice

    84.3

    86.6

    84.1
  • Chris Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Chris Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Leslie on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how existing schools embedded in hospitals for pupils with medical needs will be supported financially if planned changes to the commissioning of alternative provision proceed; and if she will make a statement.

    Edward Timpson

    We will announce more detail on the funding for alternative provision under the new commissioning arrangements in due course. We are mindful of the diverse range of provision which comes under the banner of alternative provision, and the particular logistical and geographical issues related to hospital schools.

  • Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Lord on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of children who receive free school meals in (a) Woking constituency, (b) Surrey, (c) the South East and (d) the UK have achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A*-C in each year since 2010.

    Edward Timpson

    Information on the percentage of pupils who are eligible for free school meals and achieved five GCSEs at grades A*- C, in each local authority area and at regional level in England for each of the last six years is published as part of the GCSE and equivalent results, and the attainment by pupil characteristics statistical first releases (SFRs)[1] [2]. Parliamentary constituency level information is not available.

    The Department for Education produces statistics on England only. The responsibility for education statistics in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales lies with each devolved administration.

    [1] KS4 SFR 2014/15: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/493475/SFR01_2016_LA_Tables.xlsx (Table LA8)

    [2] KS4 SFR: Years: 2009/10 to 2013/14:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-attainment-by-pupil-characteristics-2014 (table 5)

    “

  • Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Lord on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps she has taken to ensure that children have access to professional careers advice in schools.

    Robert Halfon

    Providing young people with the right information at the right time is key to ensuring every young person goes as far as their talents will take them. This is why we are investing £90 million over this Parliament to ensure that every young person has equal access to the life-changing advice and inspiration they need to fulfil their potential and succeed in life. This includes £20 million to increase the number of mentors from the world of work, supporting 25,000 young people a year by 2020. We also fund the National Careers Service, which received £77 million in 2016/17, to provide careers advice to young people via the National Contact Centre and the National Careers Service website. The vast majority of people (87%) were happy with the service they received using the website.

    We need to make available the support to help young people negotiate this information and to help guide them through the decision-making process. Maintained schools must ensure that pupils receive independent careers advice and that this is presented in an impartial manner; includes information on the range of education or training options and promotes the best interests of the pupils to whom it is given. We know that pupils can gain confidence and motivation from the opportunity to explore career ideas through individual, face-to-face discussions with a range of people, including careers professionals. We trust schools to know what is best for their pupils and to tailor what they offer and who delivers it.

  • Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Lord on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of children who receive free school meals in (a) Woking constituency, (b) Surrey, (c) the South East and (d) the UK have studied A-Levels in each year since 2010.

    Edward Timpson

    The requested information on children who receive free school meals at A-Level in England is not held by the Department. The Department for Education produces statistics on England only. The responsibility for education statistics in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales lies with each devolved administration.