At the start of 2017, The Student Room was invited to Westminster to talk to a man who should know: Robert Halfon MP, minister of state for apprenticeships and skills.
His brief covers everything from apprenticeships to careers advice to sixth-form colleges. We took an armful of your questions from the forums, along with sixth form student Tom Anson to ask them. Here's what the minister had to say.
More on TSR: All about apprenticeships How to get a degree from your apprenticeship Education secretary Justine Greening talks to The Student Room |
Questions asked in this interview with Robert Halfon MP.
"Is there a danger that the target of 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 puts you under so much pressure that thousands of schemes will be allowed to start when they haven't been properly checked?"
asked by: latespiderorchid
asked by: latespiderorchid
Is there any evidence that apprenticeships are worthwhile? For example, do you have any stats on the average salary of people who have completed their apprenticeship? How does that compare to graduate salaries?
asked by: PQ
asked by: PQ
Many students see apprenticeships as an option for students do who aren't capable of taking a more academic route. What can you do to improve the reputation of apprenticeships?
asked by: latespiderorchid
asked by: latespiderorchid
Why is the minimum wage for apprentices so low? Is the government subsidising low wage employment?
asked by: PQ
asked by: PQ
If you were at school now, would you have done an apprenticeship?
asked by: JollyKingfisher
asked by: JollyKingfisher
A lot of FE colleges no longer offer A-levels, and many are now reducing the number of access courses they offer. How can you help people who want to study academic subjects at college/university but are too old to attend sixth form?
asked by: Snufkin
asked by: Snufkin
Too many students leave secondary school with no idea what they want to do, where they want to be, or what they should be studying. Often they are simply not aware of the great diversity of roles out there that are possible. What can you do to improve careers education in schools?
asked by: Eboracum
asked by: Eboracum
You want to create opportunities for academic students in grammar schools, but what about everyone else? What technical and vocational education will you provide in schools and colleges, especially considering the shortage of UK engineers?
asked by: James813
asked by: James813
The average sixth form college pays over £300,000 a year in VAT which it can't claim back. At the same time there aren't enough text books to go round the class. Schools can claim VAT back - why can't sixth form colleges?
asked by: latespiderorchid
asked by: latespiderorchid
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