During December 2024 there were many significant debates in the House the commons. The most recent item was on the 30th December in the House of Lords, created by Baroness Smith of Malvern who referred to a question from the Baroness Wolf of Dulwich who asked about “Young People: Surveys” see below.

Just over 10 days ago two questions were asked on the 19th December. The first, from Fabian Hamilton the Labour MP for Leeds North East who asked “Educational Institutions: Staff” His response was from Catherine McKinnell who mentioned STEM see here. On the same day there was a question in the House of Lords from Lord Blunkett, he asked about STEM shown here.

Chichester MP, Jessica Brown-Fuller commented on the 18^th December during the Creative Arts Education and her comments are shown below:

Jessica Brown-Fuller: I am glad that the hon. Member is the first person in the room to raise STEAM. Adding arts to the STEM subjects is such an important and viable way of opening up the curriculum. When I visit private schools in my constituency, their arts departments are flourishing. An article in The Times in November found that nearly half of all film and television directors nominated for British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards were educated at independent schools, and one in six was educated at Oxford or Cambridge. That highlights the stark class inequalities in access to the creative industries, which will worsen if the trend of de-prioritising arts education in state schools and colleges continues.

On the 10^th December, Janet Daby, the Labour “Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education” in her response from two questions from Ian Sollom, Liberal Democrat MP for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire who asked about “Mathematics: Higher Education”, see here.

Janet referred to a response back in the 5^th December from Tan Dhesi, the Labour MP for Slough who asked about “Higher Education: Science” see here.

There was a session in the Scottish Parliament for the School Curriculum (Practical Science) on the 5^th December and it seen here.

An event on “Critical Minerals: Domestic Production — [Carolyn Harris in the Chair]” had contributions by Perran Moon, the Labour MP for Camborne and Redruth. A bit later, Noah Law, the Labour MP for St Austell and Newquay mentioned it. Their words are below:

Perran Moon: Giving more support to this industry will increase its credibility as a possible career path in the education system. Camborne School of Mines, the UK’s only dedicated mining college, and perhaps the world’s most famous, offers sector-specific undergraduate courses, but we require greater focus on STEM subjects—science, technology, engineering and maths—at GCSE and A-level, alongside apprenticeships. To conclude—I am sure hon. Members will be relieved to hear that—

Noah Law: For the industry to flourish, we must address the skills gap. Institutions such as the Camborne School of Mines, which we have already heard about, and the Truro STEM centre are at the forefront of educating the next generation of workers for the industry. I look forward to the forthcoming investment in Cornwall college in the next year or so, as historically it has been an excellent source of talent for further education. The potential is immense: more than 100 degree-level apprenticeships could be offered at Camborne alone, and a similar number of mineral processing apprenticeships are available in Truro. Each major player in the critical minerals industry forecasts the need to train around 300 staff just in terms of direct employees, not to speak of the vast supply chain required. That makes it ever more crucial that we harness local talent to plug into the supply chain.

There were two more written items on the 3^rd December. One from James Asser the Labour MP for West Ham and Beckton who asked “To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking encourage the take-up of STEM subjects at further education level.” The response from Janet Daby who included STEM and that can be seen here.

A Teachers: Labour Turnover question from Sarah Hall the Labour/Co-operative MP for Warrington South and the response included STEM from Catherine McKinnell the Labour “Minister of State (Education)”.

Then on the 2^nd December there were three written STEM questions; “Girls” by Samantha Niblett the Labour MP for South Derbyshire who asked “To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to encourage more girls into STEM subjects.” and it can be seen her. There was a Recruitment contribution by Jo Platt, the Labour / Co-operative MP for Leigh and Atherton STEM here. There was also a House of Lords session for Employment: Women from the Lord Taylor of Warwick and after he asked his question was provided by Baroness Smith of Malvern who mentioned STEM and that can be seen here.