Nick Ferrari confronts minister over widely criticised education plan as tsar quits

3 June 2021, 09:01

Nick Ferrari confronts minister over widely criticised education plan

By Fiona Jones

Nick Ferrari challenges safeguarding minister Victoria Atkins over the "half-hearted" education recovery catch up plan, as education commissioner Sir Kevan Collins resigns.

Sir Kevan Collins has sent a letter of resignation to the Prime Minister, condemning the lack of funding offered to help children make up for lost learning over the pandemic.

The education tsar, appointed solely to advise on this issue, branded the Government's £1.4 billion scheme a "half-hearted approach" which risks "failing hundreds of thousands of pupils".

The funding, which equates to £50 per student, has been widely criticised by education leaders with Chartered College of Teaching chief Alison Peacock branding the sum "derisory."

Nick challenged Ms Atkins over the tsar quitting and questioned why he was not given enough cash by the Treasury.

She responded: "We're extremely grateful to Sir Kevan Collins for his work on trying to help children and young people catch up after this pandemic. It's been a terrible year for us all but there's been a particular price that young people have paid, not just in their schooling but in their day to day life as well.

"Sir Kevan has made a list of recommendations, we have announced this week a further £1.4 billion to really target this."

Ex-headteacher furious at PM's education recovery plan

Nick quoted Sir Kevan's statement that it is a "half-hearted approach that risks failing hundreds of thousands of students", asking, "How can you keep a straight face when you say that? You've got to find more cash, haven't you?"

"The Prime Minister reiterated yesterday that this is just part of our programme of work to help children and young people catch up.

"Last summer we announced £1.7 billion and offered a range of measures to help children including holiday learning and holiday schools. Also importantly one on one tutoring."

Nick questioned what the attendance level is for the extra tutoring sessions, however Ms Atkins did not have the figures.

Education tsar resigns over Govt's school catch-up plan as it 'falls far short of what's needed'

"What I've been shown is they can have an impact of up to three to five months improvement in terms of boosting education," Ms Atkins said, "that is why with this latest announcement £1 billion worth of that is being focused on the tutoring schemes.

"We're going to be offering up to 100 million hours' worth of tutoring on top of the normal school day."

The Department for Education's programme includes £1 billion to support up to six million, 15-hour tutoring courses for disadvantaged pupils, as well as an expansion of the 16-19 tuition fund which will target subjects such as maths and English.

A further £400 million will go towards high-quality training for early years practitioners and school teachers to ensure children progress.

Criticising the funding in his resignation letter, Sir Kevan said: "I do not believe it will be possible to deliver a successful recovery without significantly greater support than the Government has, to date, indicated it intends to provide."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Exclusive
‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK critically unprepared for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK 'woefully unprepared' for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Why did Trump win and why did Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters

Why did Trump win and Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters in the wake of US election results

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the US'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she strongly disagrees with a tweet that a backbench MP appeared to have reposted saying Kemi Badenoch represents "white supremacy in blackface".

Cooper condemns 'appalling' tweet shared by Dawn Butler labelling Kemi Badenoch 'white supremacy in blackface'

Exclusive
Cumberland County: Where the US election could be won or lost

Nick Ferrari travels to America for the US Election: Watch the best bits here

Exclusive
The Chancellor was speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

Chancellor ‘doesn’t know’ salary of new chairman tasked with ensuring government ‘value for money'

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust in the criminal justice system', says Jenrick

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust' in criminal justice system, says Jenrick

Exclusive
The government has introduced its football governance bill.

'We're on the same side': Minister denies feud with Premier League over Football Governance Bill

Exclusive
Protest sign reading Danger water pollution, this water is polluted with raw sewage. The responsible party is Thames Water. River Wey, Guildford, UK

Government warns demand for water could outstrip supply as they launch review into 'broken' sector

Nick Ferrari.

'He'll look over his shoulder for the rest of his life': Concern for Martyn Blake's privacy long overdue

Exclusive
'No one gutsy enough to address this': Mylene Klass calls on government to introduce paid miscarriage leave.

Government not 'gutsy' enough to implement paid miscarriage leave claims Myleene Klass

Exclusive
David Cameron speaks to LBC

David Cameron calls for UK to sanction two Israeli ministers as change on arms embargo 'didn't satisfy anybody'

'I wouldn't do it again': Jenrick suggests regret for painting over murals at children’s asylum centre.

'I wouldn't do it again': Robert Jenrick says he regrets ordering workers to paint over murals at children’s asylum centre

Exclusive
Where did all the fish go? Feargal Sharkey uncovers dangerous blue-green algae plaguing River Wye

Where did all the fish go? Feargal Sharkey uncovers dangerous blue-green algae plaguing River Wye