argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Obesity Reduction — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Technology
Johanna Peta Churchill (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for that question. I know that as a keen marathon runner, he has a keen interest in us all keeping fit. I could not agree with him more: our children’s online watching is considerably greater than their watching of terrestrial television, and that is precisely why we have included a consultation in the online space to ensure that we have fully considered all the impacts that he just mentioned before we move forward and any changes to advertising restrictions before they are introduced.
Nurse Recruitment — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Heather Kay Wheeler (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for her answer. Does she agree that the changes made by Project 2000 in 1986 led to a large group of caring people being excluded from training to be nurses? If we are to recruit many more nurses, this approach should be rethought, with recruits once again being able to learn on the job, as they did prior to 1986. This would bring nurses’ education much more in line with the Government’s recognition that university is not for all children and fulfil our objective to have apprenticeships in all walks of life.
NHS Expenditure and EU Negotiations — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: International Affairs
Edward John Comport Argar (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Lady knows, the negotiations with the EU on our future relationship with it following the end of the transition period are ongoing. This Government are delivering on their pledge to respect democracy and the referendum result, with the UK engaging continuously and constructively in the negotiations. We must await the outcome of those negotiations, in which health-related aspects are very important, rather than prejudging what will emerge from them.
Topical Questions — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Law and Crime
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend has been a tireless advocate for Burnley. He is quite right to praise the people of Burnley, who have had local restrictions put in place. Because of the actions they have taken—because they have followed their duty and followed those tougher rules—and the sacrifices they have made, the case rate has come down in Burnley, and I pay tribute to my hon. Friend and to every single resident of Burnley who has played their part. Absolutely, the enhanced support will continue in Burnley, as it does across those parts of Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire that we have been able to take out of the most restrictive measures, and we continue to watch with vigilance.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): Yes, absolutely. Our approach is to ensure that the support that is given, including with the vaccine if and when that comes, goes to those who are clinically most at risk. That is the answer to ensuring that disabled people get the support that they need. People who are disabled for different reasons have different needs. We must be cognisant of that and not try to treat all disabled people with different disabilities the same. Instead, we should support people according to their needs and that is at the heart of the approach that I take.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): We need to move fast sometimes in the response to a pandemic, and we need to move fast to contract with those who are best able to provide the support that people need. The constant attempt by those on the Opposition Benches to divide people in this way runs precisely counter to what people want to see—what people want to see is people working together, instead of these divisive tactics.
Covid-19 — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Technology
Matthew John David Hancock (Conservative, Centre-right): That campaign is under way. We are constantly looking to strengthen it. Of course Facebook and other social media providers have an important role to play. I had that meeting with Nick Clegg, who in fact broke off his holiday in order to take the meeting. [Interruption.] Zoom reaches all parts. In fairness to my former coalition ministerial partner, he absolutely understands the importance of this issue, and Facebook has been doing very significant work. That does not mean that there is not more that it can and must do, but the response was positive. Further work needs to be done to make sure that we get the positive messages across.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Robert Henry Halfon (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for this statement. In July, our Education Committee report suggested a delay in the date of the exams. Given that we now know that millions of children have not been learning during the lockdown, does he agree that the way forward should be an urgent assessment, or benchmarking, of all children in school, with data collected by the Department for Education and regulators to inform the Government’s decision as to when the exams are to take place next year?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend makes an important point about the importance of benchmarking and making an assessment as to where pupils are. We will be doing that, working right across the sector to ensure that there is a clear understanding of where some of the learning gaps are in order for us to best deal with them. It will also be absolutely vital in informing policy for the year ahead.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Laura Trott (Conservative, Centre-right): There have been many individual initiatives over the summer to help children to catch up, including the brilliant Invicta Academy, which was started in Kent. Can my right hon. Friend outline the steps that his Department is taking to help all children to catch up, especially the most deprived, who we know have been hardest hit by the gap in education?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): As the hon. Gentleman will know, we announced last year a £14.4 billion increase in school funding. That was a three-year deal, and we are seeing it rolled out in this academic year, the following academic year and the year after that. It will have a truly beneficial effect on every pupil right across the country.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Marco Longhi (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Secretary of State for the statement that he brought to the House today, and I also thank him and all his team for the huge efforts they have put in over the summer in an evolving situation that must have been really difficult to manage. Does he agree with the result of a recent study showing that the risks to children from covid-19 are actually very tiny, and that the benefits children will gain from a return to school far outweigh any risks posed by covid?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very aware that my constituency neighbour, who has been out campaigning and doing everything he can to get all children in his constituency back into school, is a real champion of their educational achievements and what children are doing right across Dudley North. He is right to highlight that study, and the fact that there will be more harm done to children by their not returning to school than by coming back to school. We all know the benefits, and this is not just about education; it is also about the physical health and mental health that children gain from being back in school. That is why it was vital to open schools before the summer, and that is why it is so vital to have every child back in school enjoying the true joy of what school is able to offer them.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Alun Hugh Cairns (Conservative, Centre-right): I recognise the focus of the Secretary of State and the ministerial teams on supporting pupils, parents and teachers throughout what has been one of the most difficult periods in policy development. I also recognise that these challenges have been equal in all parts of the United Kingdom. My constituents have faced similar difficulties to those in England, as the Secretary of State has just recognised. May I pay particular tribute to my right hon. Friend for the guidance that has led to so many pupils returning to school? Does he also recognise that guidance is guidance, that it cannot account for every circumstance and that judgments will need to be made at the most local of levels?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): My right hon. Friend makes a valid point. He will know all too well that many schools across the Vale of Glamorgan have different pressures, and we are seeing this right across England as well. Whether a school has 40 pupils or 1,400, it will need to adapt and change to ensure that it creates a safe and secure environment for the pupils and for those who are working in the school. By doing that, it creates greater safety and confidence in the wider community. Guidance is there to support teachers, headteachers and all those who work in schools, and it is leading to all schools returning and the opportunity for all pupils to benefit from a great education.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government have outlined increases in school budgets for not just this academic year but the next one and will be increasing school funding further in the academic year after that, in one of the most generous settlements of any Department.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Robert John Blackman (Conservative, Centre-right): I would like to congratulate my right hon. Friend and his team on all their Herculean efforts to get children back into schools, which is where they need to be. It is estimated that more than 2 million young people are behind in their education, so the additional funding is warmly welcomed. What guidance is he giving, for example, on extending the school day in secondary schools by 30 minutes, which would enable young people to catch up and teachers to catch up with teaching the curriculum, so that we do not have to reduce the impact of GCSEs or A-levels in examining what children have learned?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): As part of the advice that was worked up along with the Education Endowment Foundation, one of the key recommendations was looking at how to extend the school day and at provision on weekends, in order to support children who need that little bit of extra help and have had a real impact on their educational attainment. All these measures can have an enormously positive effect. That is why we developed the £1 billion covid catch-up fund, so that schools have the ability to take such action.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Social Welfare
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): One of the key reasons we took the decision to move to moderated grades in March was that many of the studies previously carried out showed that going to purely predicted grades was most likely to disadvantage those from the most disadvantaged communities and those from ethnic minority communities. That is what informed the approach. One of the key elements that I highlighted when I wrote to Ofqual was the need to ensure that those who are disadvantaged were not disadvantaged by any approach that was taken.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): We are working closely with the Education Endowment Foundation to ensure that those tutorials are rolled out through this academic year. All the studies point to the fact that the benefits that accrue to children are incredibly rapid, over quite a short period. Having small group tuition can deliver real leaps in learning within four to five months, so there is an immediate benefit from doing it, and that shows the urgency of bringing it forward. My right hon. Friend points to the slight trepidation of a child she saw on TV about returning to school. What we have seen across the board is that when children get to school, their faces light up, and the teachers are there to welcome them and are so keen to see them. That is what we want to see, and that is what we are seeing across the country. The benefits will be truly profound, not just for those children but much more widely in society.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Robert Butler (Conservative, Centre-right): I pay tribute to the staff across the Aylesbury constituency for all the work they have done preparing for children to get back to class safely this week. Will my right hon. Friend set out what his Department is doing specifically to help support children with special educational needs and disabilities, particularly those who are in mainstream schools?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend raises an important point. I join him in paying tribute to all those who work in the schools, nurseries and colleges across the Aylesbury constituency for the work they have been doing over the summer to welcome children back. We recognise that there are some unique challenges for children with special educational needs not just in the mainstream sector, but in special schools. This is why we have consistently provided targeted advice on how to support them, recognising that some of their needs are going to be extra for them and that schools are in the best position to be able to support them on their return.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I know that the awarding organisation Pearson is working very closely with the centres where there are still some students who have not received their grades. This is something that occurs each year, and the number of youngsters who received their BTEC awards was significantly higher than the previous year, but there are some centres where there continue to be some challenges. I know that Pearson is working closely with those centres to resolve those and ensure that those grades and qualifications are awarded as swiftly as possible.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Huw William Merriman (Conservative, Centre-right): It has been six months since many of our young children have been in school, and for many of us parents that means witnessing our children losing not just their educational opportunities, but their social development, so I congratulate the Department, the ministerial team and all in the sector on getting our schools open. It is the most important thing. The Secretary of State is aware that I have concerns about the use of face masks, but if that means we get the schools open, then so be it. Can we please keep that evidence under review, because it would be ideal if young children had the message that their school is safe and there is no encumbrance on their education?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
James Roger Cartlidge (Conservative, Centre-right): I sincerely hope that no school in South Suffolk finds itself in full local lockdown at tiers 3 and 4, but I welcome the fact that the Secretary of State has promised that all pupils will have access to remote learning if schools find themselves in that situation. Will he clarify a point? In partial lockdown—tier 2—where there is attendance by rota, would those pupils who were not attending physically also have the chance to participate in remote lessons?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): In what we would certainly hope to be a very unusual situation—whereby there was a local lockdown and where every other measure had been taken, including extra social distancing, and the closure of other businesses and facilities—we would then move to a tier 2 level. There is a clear expectation that in those circumstances, as was set out in the guidance on 2 July, there will be continuity of education, and youngsters—even if they are not in school, on a rota basis—would still be expected to be learning at home.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): I can confirm that that is the case; we will cover those exam fees. We are looking at running the series in the autumn. Obviously, these are GCSE and A-level papers, some of which will be taken by Northern Ireland students, who use a number of the English boards to take more specialist subjects. We will be running this series in the autumn, and it is an important opportunity for young people if they want to take it up.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Richard Michael John Ogilvie Graham (Conservative, Centre-right): Some parents have raised issues about the quality of online learning for their children during the summer. Although I know that all schools in Gloucestershire are doing their best, I am struck by the campaign group "Sept. for Schools", which has highlighted the discrepancies in online learning. Does my right hon. Friend agree with them and with me that it would help to create minimum quality thresholds for remote learning in all schools, with additional funds for digital disadvantage, so that pupils from whatever school—in Gloucester or elsewhere—will all get quality online learning whenever it is needed?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend raises an important point. This is why we set out in guidance a clear expectation of what is a minimum. As part of Ofsted’s inspection regime, it will be looking at the evidence to see what has been put in place to ensure continuity of education for children when there has been disruption to normal classroom learning.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Lady tries to imply it was about postcodes. At no stage has the system been anything to do with postcodes, and it is misleading to imply otherwise. As one would expect, we have always aimed to ensure as much fairness in the system as possible; we have done that at every step of the way. On BTECs, I allude to the answer I gave a few moments ago. Where colleges are still awaiting final qualifications, it is usually because there is a gap in the final information that Pearson, the awarding organisation, needs to make the awards, but it has assured us it is making every effort to close that circle and ensure that all youngsters due a qualification receive one, once it gets all the information required.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Robert Alexander Stewart (Conservative, Centre-right): As I understand it, from what is reported, the overall results this year are 10% to 12% higher than they might have been if people had sat exams. I am thinking of next year’s cohort and particularly of those who have slipped their university place to next year on their exam results this year. This will make it very difficult for people who might have got an A under this year’s rules but get a B next year. There seems to be a measure of unfairness there that will have to be sorted out by universities and employers. Does the Secretary of State have any idea how we can equalise this apparent unfairness?
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend highlights the challenges of competition between year groups and ensuring fairness across year groups. We will work with Ofqual and the whole sector to achieve that fairness because we do not want youngsters taking exams in 2021 to be disadvantaged in any way.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Gavin Alexander Williamson (Conservative, Centre-right): One of the great pleasures that I have had over this period is working very closely with the Education Minister and Deputy First Minister, Mr Swinney. We have always tried to work together in a collaborative manner. We do recognise that there are some real shared challenges right across all four nations of the United Kingdom. What is clear is that, as a United Kingdom, we are so much stronger together, because the support that is there—whether it be job retention schemes or the extra £6 billion-plus towards universal credit—shows that every one of the four nations of the United Kingdom is richer and stronger as a result of a Union, which, sadly, the hon. Gentleman always wants to break up.
Schools and Colleges: Qualification Results and Full Opening — House of Commons, 2020-09-01
Topic: Education
Robert James MacGillivray Neill (Conservative, Centre-right): The Government did the right thing in lifting the cap on places at medical and dental schools, but there is still a practical problem. Constituents like a number of mine are still waiting to know whether they will get places this year or have to defer. That is because the negotiations on funding have still not apparently been resolved between the schools and the Department of Health. Will my right hon. Friend tell his colleague the Secretary State for Health as a matter of urgency that we need to give these young people, who are embarking on lengthy professional qualification courses and whose skills we desperately need, some certainty as to when they are able to start their courses? It is a huge stress for them and their parents and hardly in the country’s long-term interest.