The education secretary’s new powers must not be used to restrict access to the lifelong learning entitlement, former universities minister Jo Johnson has said.

Lord Johnson has tabled an amendment to the new Skills and Post-16 Education Bill which would see a clause inserted to ensure that the new lifelong learning entitlement is available to any student regardless of prior qualification, subject being studied, intensity of study or restrictions on student numbers (excluding for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and undergraduate teacher training). 

He added: “The secretary of state may not, in exercising powers under this or any other Act in relation to the lifelong learning entitlement, restrict access to the scheme on the grounds set out in subsection (1).” 

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In an explanatory statement, he said: “This amendment is intended to ensure that the lifelong learning entitlement is available to those who wish to pursue a qualification at a level equivalent to or lower than one they already hold, and in any subject at any pace or course structure, and to prevent government-imposed caps on student numbers that restrict student choice.”

Lifelong learning entitlement ‘should be available to all’

The new skills bill would give the education secretary a range of additional powers - specifically where colleges struggle or are found to not meet local need. It is currently making its way through Parliament, and had a second reading in the House of Lords last week. At the time, Lord Johnson said the new Lifetime Skills Guarantee was too restrictive, and criticised the government for excluding creative arts from the list of 400 courses available.

Personal education and skills accounts

Lord Storey and Baroness Garden of Frognal tabled an amendment relating to personal education and skills accounts (PESA), calling for the education secretary to make a payment of £4,000 when an individual turns 25 and then two further payments of £3,000 when an individual turns 40 and 55. 

The explanatory statement said: “This amendment provides for individual “skills wallets” which may be used by a person to pay for education and training courses throughout their lifetime.”

Lord Johnson is chairman of Tes Global