Public Accounts Committee - Education
24 December 2018
You can find the relevant publications relating to the Committee's work around Education. The Department for Education is on a par with the Department of Health and Social Care in terms of strains on funding and doubts over its long-term sustainability.
The Committee believes the Department has been unrealistic in its savings expectations, while having little in the way of contingency planning if these savings plans threaten the quality of education and pupil performance.
There is evidence that strains on the Department's budget are hitting pupils directly. Cash shortages have led to many schools reviewing their options, such as reducing school hours in an attempt to save money. Some schools are offering a reduced curriculum; some are struggling to fund basic materials such as exercise books.
We are deeply concerned about the long-term impacts these ‘make-do' measures will have on pupils, particularly those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.
We have heard from headteachers the toll that working long hours has on staff and the potential impact on the quality of teaching. Our report on retaining and developing the teaching workforce found that the Department has failed to get a grip on the issue of teacher retention.
The Committee remains concerned about the management of school buildings, in particular the lack of clarity about the prevalence of asbestos and action to address the risks.
Government also continues with its policy of delivering new free schools, many in inappropriate buildings which are costly to buy and maintain and not suitable for the long-term education of pupils.
The Committee most recently took evidence from the Department in November 2018 for its inquiry examining the accounts and performance of academy schools.
A more detailed overview of its work on education is provided in the Chair's Third Annual Report here.
Publications and correspondence relating to the Committee's work on Education can be found below and will be updated as relevant publications continue to emerge.
Reports and correspondence published in 2019
Reports
Inquiry: Academy accounts and performance
Report: Academy accounts and performance - Published 23 January
Reports and correspondence published in 2018
Reports
Inquiry: Sale of student loans
Report: Sale of student loans - Published 22 November
Inquiry: Ofsted's inspection of schools
Report: Ofsted's inspection of schools - Published 7 September
Inquiry: Converting schools to academies
Report: Converting schools to academies - Published 11 July
Inquiry: Delivering STEM skills for the economy
Report: Delivering STEM skills for the economy - Published 22 June
Inquiry: The Higher Education market
Report: The Higher Education market - Published 15 June
Inquiry: Academy schools' finances
Report: Academy schools' finances - Published 30 March
Inquiry: Alternative Higher Education Providers
Report: Alternative Higher Education Providers - Published 7 March
Inquiry: The monitory, inspecting and funding of Learndirect Ltd.
Report: The monitory, inspection and funding of Learndirect Ltd. - Published 2 March
Correspondence
Correspondence with the Comptroller and Auditor General concerning T levels - 7 June
Correspondence with Department for Education relating to academy schools' finances - 12 June
Correspondence with the Department for Education - 27 March
Reports and correspondence published in 2017
Reports
Inquiry: Capital funding for schools
Report: Capital funding for schools - Published 26 April
Inquiry: Financial sustainability of schools
Report: Financial sustainability of schools - Published 29 March
Inquiry: Retaining and developing the teaching workforce
Report: Retaining and developing the teaching workforce - Published 31 January
Correspondence
Correspondence with National Union of Students relating to Learndirect - 8 November
Correspondence with TES - 5 December
Correspondence with the Department for Education relating to Learndirect - 28 September
Correspondence with Ofsted - 18 January
Correspondence with Andy Palmer, Chief Executive, Learndirect - 16 January
Correspondence with Department for Education - 21 January
Correspondence with Ofsted - 9 February
Further Correspondence with Ofsted - 9 February
Reports and correspondence published in 2016
Reports
Inquiry: The apprenticeships programme
Report: The apprenticeships programme - Published 30 November
Inquiry: Entitlement to free early years education and childcare
Report: Entitlement to free early years education and childcare - Published 15 June
Inquiry: Training new teachers
Report: Training new teachers - Published 10 June
Reports and correspondence published in 2015
Reports
Inquiry: Overseeing financial sustainability in the further education sector
Report: Overseeing financial sustainability in the further education sector - Published 16 December
Inquiry: Funding for disadvantaged pupils
Report: Funding for disadvantaged pupils - Published 9 October
Correspondence
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