Today’s Education in the Media blog looks at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) report on the Baker Clause, as well as the Independent’s piece on the Free Periods campaign.
Baker Clause
Today, Wednesday 9 January, the IPPR published a report on the impact of the Baker Clause one year on from its implementation. This was covered by the Times, Schools Week and FE Week.
The Baker Clause requires schools to ensure that pupils have the opportunity to speak to further education providers about post-16 options.
We have published new statutory guidance which explains in detail what schools are required to do to comply with the Baker Clause. We are investing over £70m each year until 2020 to support young people and adults with career advice and support. This includes funding for the National Careers Service and the Careers & Enterprise Company.
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
We want young people to know about the amazing opportunities available to them in technical education. That is why we introduced the Baker Clause, to make sure they are able to meet University Technical Colleges, apprenticeship providers and further education colleges, helping them understand the options open to them.
If a school does not provide their students with this information, we have been clear that we will take appropriate action.
Tampon Tax Fund
Today, Wednesday 9 January, the Independent published an article about the expense of tampons and sanitary products.
We take this issue seriously, which is why we have made up £1.68 million available to ensure access to sanitary products for girls and young women in England.
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
Through the Tampon Tax Fund £1.68 million has been made available to help distribute sanitary products to young women and girls in need across England.
Our guidance encourages schools to help girls cope with menstruation and we are providing more than £2.4bn Pupil Premium this year to support schools in meeting the needs of disadvantaged pupils. Current analysis does show there is no evidence that period poverty has a significant nation-wide impact on school attendance. We are continuing to look into this sensitive issue and schools can make sanitary products available if they identify access to products as a barrier to girls attending school.
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