Tag: Lord Watson of Invergowrie

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2015-12-08.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to provide support for the Family Rights Group advice service when its current funding expires in March 2016.

Lord Nash

Following the spending review, the Department is considering future spending priorities right across the board, including those important grants we make to voluntary and community sector organisations. We will announce next steps on funding for 2016/17 and beyond in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2016-09-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the LaingBuisson report into the future of children’s services in Birmingham; and if so, when.

Lord Nash

The Department for Education does intend to publish the LaingBuisson report entitled “The potential for developing the capacity and diversity of children’s social care services in England.” The Department intends to publish the report in due course.

It should be noted that the report considers the potential for developing the capacity and diversity of provision of children’s social care services in England, and is not a report into the future of children’s services in Birmingham.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2015-12-08.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many formal notices have been issued to the Academies Enterprise Trust or individual schools within that Trust; and what discussions they have had with the relevant Regional Schools Commissioner regarding that Trust.

Lord Nash

Pre-warning notices in relation to academies are subject to ongoing review and, where appropriate, intervention as part of the regular dialogue between the trust and Regional Schools Commissioners.

Details of all formal notices that have been issued are in the public domain and have been attached to this answer.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the response by Lord Nash of 23 November to the 10th Report of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee on the Education and Adoption Bill, whether it is possible to amend the definition of a coasting school in primary legislation using the powers in clause 15 of that bill.

Lord Nash

It is not possible to amend the definition of a coasting school in primary legislation using the powers in clause 15 of the Education and Adoption Bill. Clause 15 can only be used to make transitional or savings provisions about the coming into force of the Bill, or to make provision consequential to any provision of the Bill. Neither of these grounds would apply to an amendment to the definition of a coasting school. It would not have to be done as a consequence of the Bill, as the Bill already gives a means and procedure for defining coasting.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, under the proposed definition of a coasting school in the Education and Adoption Bill, an academy cannot be found to be coasting until the fourth year after it has been established despite three years of performance data being available.

Lord Nash

An academy will be subject to the same coasting definition as a maintained school. Our proposed definition would identify a school as coasting where data shows that it is failing to fulfil its pupils’ potential over a three year period. As long as the academy has three years of validated results, which may date from before the school converted to an academy, it may be notified it is coasting before the fourth year of its operation as an academy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the validated results for 2016 (1) Key Stage 2 assessments, and (2) GCSE and equivalent qualifications, to be available in order to calculate whether a school will need to be notified that it is coasting.

Lord Nash

The 2016 key stage 2 results will be published in December 2016 on GOV.UK. These results will be used to identify coasting schools, in conjunction with corresponding data from 2014 and 2015.

The 2016 key stage 4 (GCSE and equivalent) results will be published in January 2017 on GOV.UK. These will also be used to identify coasting schools, in conjunction with corresponding data from 2014 and 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to publish monthly information on those academies that have transferred from one academy trust to another, together with an explanation as to why those transfers have taken place.

Lord Nash

Information on the current academy trust is in the public domain through Edubase.

The Department has no plan to publish such information on a monthly basis. The Department regularly publishes a variety of information.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish in their list of academies the trust identification number for each academy and that trust’s Companies House registration number.

Lord Nash

Information on current open academies and their trust name is published on Edubase online. The trust name can be used to search for the trust’s Companies House registration number on the Companies House website.

The Department has no plan to publish in its list of open academies the trust identification number for each academy and the trust’s Companies House registration number. The Department regularly publishes a variety of information.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2015-12-16.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish in their list of sponsors of academies the sponsor identification number for each sponsor, and the trust identification number for each academy trust that the sponsor is sponsoring.

Lord Nash

The Department has no plan to publish in its list of sponsors of academies the sponsor and trust identification number for each sponsor and trust. The Department regularly publishes a variety of information.

Information on current open academies, together with their sponsor and trust name, can be found on Edubase online.

Sponsor information is also available within the Department’s monthly list of open academies and academy projects in development, which can be found on GOV.UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2016-02-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take in response to the skill shortages and consequent unfilled vacancies highlighted in the UK Commission for Employment and Skills Survey 2015 published on 28 January.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

We are investing in apprenticeships to meet identified skill needs across all sectors. We are committed to reaching 3 million apprenticeship starts in England by 2020 and will ensure they deliver the skills employers and the economy need for growth. We have also announced plans for ground-breaking reforms to technical and professional education, working in direct partnership with employers to ensure the new system provides the skills most needed for the 21st century. Together with creating 5 National Colleges, supporting a new network of Institutes of Technology and rolling out more degree and higher level apprenticeships, we are helping to equip people with the higher and technical level skills that are in demand.

Our aim is for all local areas to take a leading role in skills provision to ensure it is responsive to local economic priorities and devolution deals with areas around the country are a big step towards this ambition so that they can secure the training and skills that local employers need.