Written questions by Mayer.

If she will review the decision to end the Union Learning Fund.

The department recognises the role that the Union Learning Fund (ULF) played in encouraging greater take up of learning in the workplace. Government funding for ULF ceased in March 2021.The Adult Skills Fund is now 60% devolved to Combined Authorities. Devolving adult skills funding provides these authorities, working alongside key stakeholders, including trade unions, with the ability to direct funding to best meet their local skills needs.The department and Skills England are committed to working with employers, providers, trade unions and Combined Authorities to ensure that high-quality qualification and training pathways are meeting skills needs, but there are no current plans to reintroduce funding for the ULF.

Whether her Department holds data on the number of coaches booked by schools for (a) cultural and (b) sports trips in (i) 2024 to date and (ii) the last five years.

The department does not hold data on the number of coaches booked by schools, including for (a) cultural and (b) sports trips.

If she will commission research on the potential impact of room temperature during examinations on student performance.

The department is not currently considering commissioning research on the effect of room temperature during examinations on student performance, although we continue to keep abreast of research in this area. The department has provided advice for schools ...

How many hours of teaching were lost as a result of (a) extreme heat and (b) flooding in 2024.

From the start of the 2024/25 academic year, schools have had a duty to provide daily attendance data to the department. Attendance data can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-attendance-in-schools.The...

If she will make it her policy to allow local leaders to use Skills Bootcamp funding to support training for coach drivers.

Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape, and the department continues to support the delivery of Skills Bootcamps through funding Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and local areas directly. We continue to keep the sectors eligibl...

Whether her Department plans to add education on diversity to school curriculums.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering ages 5 to 18, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The terms of reference were published in July and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/curric...

How much funding his Department made available for school transport for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in academic years (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22, (c) 2022-23, (d) 2023-24 and (e) 2024

Most central government funding for home to school travel is provided through the local government finance settlement (LGFS), which is administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. This funding is non-ringfenced, giving local ...

When her Department plans to update statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms.

The government has committed to legislate through the Children’s Wellbeing Bill to limit the number of items of branded uniform and PE kit that schools can require. This proposed legislation will go further than the current statutory guidance, which only requires schools to keep branded uniform items to a minimum. The existing statutory guidance will be updated once the new legislation has received Royal Assent. This will ensure that both work together to ensure that schools will need to justify every piece of branded uniform they include in their uniform policy. This will put an end to schools still requiring large numbers of branded items.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including education on identifying misinformation online in the school curriculum.

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, covering key stages 1 to 5, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The review will seek to deliver a curriculum that ensures children and young people leave compulsory education ready for life and ready for work, building the knowledge, skills and attributes young people need to thrive. This includes embedding digital, oracy and life skills in their learning. The review will consider the key digital skills needed for future life and critical thinking skills to ensure children are resilient to misinformation and extremist content online.

Whether her Department plans to introduce a Natural History GCSE in September 2025.

The government has launched an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review covering key stages 1 to 5, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The Review will consider the current qualification pathways available at key stage 4 and 5. A call for evidence will be published in the autumn which will set out the areas the review group would particularly welcome input from. More information about the review is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-curriculum-and-assessment-review.

If she will make it her policy to allow local leaders to use Skills Bootcamp funding to support training for bus drivers.

Skills Bootcamps are a great way for learners and local areas to develop the skills they need and the department provides grant funding to 30 mayoral combined authorities and local areas to deliver Skills Bootcamps training that meets local skills’ priorities. In the 2023/24 financial year, the total value of grant funding contracts awarded was approximately £114 million.The department continues to keep the sectors eligible for Skills Bootcamps funding under review.