To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the reasons why approximately 30% of 16-year-olds did not achieve a grade 4 or above in a) GCSE English and b) GCSE Mathematics in 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the reasons why approximately 30% of 16-year-olds did not achieve a grade 4 or above in a) GCSE English and b) GCSE Mathematics in 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the factors contributing to regional disparities in 2026 GCSE a) English and b) Mathematics attainment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the factors contributing to regional disparities in 2026 GCSE a) English and b) Mathematics attainment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the current requirements for students who do not achieve a grade 4 in GCSE a) English or b) Maths to continue studying those subjects post-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the current requirements for students who do not achieve a grade 4 in GCSE a) English or b) Maths to continue studying those subjects post-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the reasons for levels of pass rates among students aged 17 and over resitting GCSE a) English and b) Maths in 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the reasons for levels of pass rates among students aged 17 and over resitting GCSE a) English and b) Maths in 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of GCSE resits in improving a) English and b) Maths attainment among students who did not achieve a grade 4 at age 16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of GCSE resits in improving a) English and b) Maths attainment among students who did not achieve a grade 4 at age 16.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the proposed timetable for the introduction of the new level 1 stepping stone qualifications for English and Mathematics.

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the proposed timetable for the introduction of the new level 1 stepping stone qualifications for English and Mathematics.

Lords motion to take note of the report of the Social Mobility Committee on Social Mobility: Local Roots, Lasting Change (HL 201 2024-26). Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the report of the Social Mobility Committee on Social Mobility: Local Roots, Lasting Change (HL 201 2024-26). Agreed to on question.

My Lords, there is hardly a more important subject than the future of our young people and their contribution to the wealth of the nation and to their own happiness. I was privileged to lead a one-off committee last year on social mobility. What the committee learned was sobering and...

My Lords, there is hardly a more important subject than the future of our young people and their contribution to the wealth of the nation and to their own happiness. I was privileged to lead a one-off committee last year on social mobility. What the committee learned was sobering and...

My Lords, it is a huge privilege to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Manningham-Buller, for whom I have huge respect. So often I tremble when I see her, but always with respect.

This is an excellent report. The noble Baroness mentioned that it obviously has gaps, which there are bound to...

My Lords, it is a huge privilege to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Manningham-Buller, for whom I have huge respect. So often I tremble when I see her, but always with respect.

This is an excellent report. The noble Baroness mentioned that it obviously has gaps, which there are bound to...

My Lords, I congratulate the committee on an excellent report. I am sure it was the right approach to focus on a specific set of problems, and it is a very well-judged collection that is put to us to debate today. Personally, I have always thought that the biggest single...

My Lords, I congratulate the committee on an excellent report. I am sure it was the right approach to focus on a specific set of problems, and it is a very well-judged collection that is put to us to debate today. Personally, I have always thought that the biggest single...

My Lords, this was a fascinating committee with a very impressive chair and enthusiastic members. We asked witnesses for a definition of social mobility and received a very wide variety of answers. We ended up with, “Ensuring that the situation that you are born into or grow up in does...

My Lords, this was a fascinating committee with a very impressive chair and enthusiastic members. We asked witnesses for a definition of social mobility and received a very wide variety of answers. We ended up with, “Ensuring that the situation that you are born into or grow up in does...

My Lords, I too warmly applaud this report. What is so encouraging is that it does not have all the answers. I think it has whetted in a great number of people a curiosity, an appetite to study further, to have more data. That, to me, is a very encouraging...

My Lords, I too warmly applaud this report. What is so encouraging is that it does not have all the answers. I think it has whetted in a great number of people a curiosity, an appetite to study further, to have more data. That, to me, is a very encouraging...

My Lords, for me, this journey started all the way back in 2024 when I proposed this topic as a special inquiry, so it is very good at last to see the work brought to a conclusion in this debate. First, I thank our superb chair, the noble Baroness, Lady...

My Lords, for me, this journey started all the way back in 2024 when I proposed this topic as a special inquiry, so it is very good at last to see the work brought to a conclusion in this debate. First, I thank our superb chair, the noble Baroness, Lady...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Ravensdale, who reminded the committee of the importance of data. I join him and others in complimenting the noble Baroness on her chairmanship. Her earlier career gave her unparalleled skills in interrogation.

While welcoming much of the Government’s response,...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Ravensdale, who reminded the committee of the importance of data. I join him and others in complimenting the noble Baroness on her chairmanship. Her earlier career gave her unparalleled skills in interrogation.

While welcoming much of the Government’s response,...

My Lords, as a member of the committee, I also express my gratitude to our chair, the noble Baroness, Lady Manningham-Buller, along with our clerk and her outstanding team. I draw attention to my registered interests as an employer and an active Army Reserve officer. I also pay tribute to...

My Lords, as a member of the committee, I also express my gratitude to our chair, the noble Baroness, Lady Manningham-Buller, along with our clerk and her outstanding team. I draw attention to my registered interests as an employer and an active Army Reserve officer. I also pay tribute to...

It is advisory. In the absence of legitimate career paths—

It is advisory. In the absence of legitimate career paths—

I will then put forward two direct questions to the Minister. First, will she advocate with the Treasury to expand national insurance exemptions to cover all employees under 25 in the upcoming Budget? Secondly, will she confirm that the final Milburn report will be released promptly and that it will...

I will then put forward two direct questions to the Minister. First, will she advocate with the Treasury to expand national insurance exemptions to cover all employees under 25 in the upcoming Budget? Secondly, will she confirm that the final Milburn report will be released promptly and that it will...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Manningham-Buller, and her committee for producing this very thoughtful and focused report. The committee’s focus on education and training opportunities for 16 to 18 year-olds is pertinent, as is its recommendation regarding local leadership, given the regional disparities. While the Government’s response...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Manningham-Buller, and her committee for producing this very thoughtful and focused report. The committee’s focus on education and training opportunities for 16 to 18 year-olds is pertinent, as is its recommendation regarding local leadership, given the regional disparities. While the Government’s response...

My Lords, as we consider this issue it is also important to look at how it intersects with the criminal justice system. We know there is a cycle whereby disadvantage can lead to educational disengagement. This can lead to someone ending up outside of education, employment or training. Once there,...

My Lords, as we consider this issue it is also important to look at how it intersects with the criminal justice system. We know there is a cycle whereby disadvantage can lead to educational disengagement. This can lead to someone ending up outside of education, employment or training. Once there,...

My Lords, I read the committee’s excellent report over the Summer Recess, when I spent time in Washington DC and visited the recently opened Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream. It defines the core pillars of that dream—in other words, the core pillars of social mobility—as education, health, financial...

My Lords, I read the committee’s excellent report over the Summer Recess, when I spent time in Washington DC and visited the recently opened Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream. It defines the core pillars of that dream—in other words, the core pillars of social mobility—as education, health, financial...