On 24th March 2022, the House of Lords debated commons amendments to the Post 16 Skills and Education Bill. Votes were held on amendments, in which a Bishop took part.
Division 2:
The Bishop of Leeds took part in a vote on an amendment tabled by Lord Blunkett:
Lord Blunkett moved amendment 15A, as an amendment to the motion that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment 15, at end to insert “and do propose Amendment 15B instead of the words so left out of the Bill—
15B Page 10, line 37, at end insert—
“(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to the withdrawal of level three courses—
(a) for the period of three academic years beginning with the first such year which starts after the day on which this Act is passed; and
(b) for the fourth such year, unless the Institute has undertaken public consultation and secured consent of the relevant employer representative bodies, as defined in the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, together with appropriate quality assurance.””
The amendment was agreed. Content: 138 / Not Content: 125
The Bishop of Leeds voted Content.
Division 3:
The Bishop of Leeds took part in a vote on an amendment tabled by Lord Baker of Dorking, to disagree with a Commons amendment:
My Amendment 16A is altogether quite an interesting argument. In the draft Bill, the Government said that BTECs will survive as single subjects in the future, but no student will be allowed to take two BTECs. This is an entirely original and unique thing to say in the history of education since the great Act of 1870. At no stage have any Government or Minister said that a student cannot take two qualifications that are funded and available. This has never happened before in our history, so why is it being done now? The Government have never justified this, and it is extraordinary.
Several students in schools and FE colleges will take two BTECs. Some 20% of black students go to university with two BTECs. The Government say, “Oh well, they can take T-levels”, but many of those students will not be able to match T-levels if they have not attained level 4 in English and maths.
The amendment was disagreed. Content: 96 / Not Content 126
The Bishop of Leeds voted Content.
Division 4:
The Bishop of Leeds took part in a vote on an amendment tabled by Baroness Wilcox of Newport:
Baroness Wilcox of Newport moved amendment 17D, as an amendment to Motion 17A, to add the following amendments—
17E In subsection (4), in inserted subsection (2A)(b), after “provide” insert “in-person”.
17F In subsection (4), in inserted subsection (2B), at end insert “, beginning in Year 7 and running over at least two weeks on each occasion”
The amendment was disagreed. Content: 83 / Not Content 144.
The Bishop of Leeds voted Not Content.
Division 5:
The Bishop of Leeds took part in a vote on an amendment tabled by Lord Addington:
Lord Addington moved amendment 21A, as an amendment to the motion that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment 21, at end to insert “and do propose Amendment 21B instead of the words so left out of the Bill—
21B After Clause 19, insert the following new Clause—
“Employer-led occupational standards for further education teaching
The employer-led occupational standards for further education teachers must include a working knowledge of how the most commonly occurring special educational needs will affect students in the normal educational and training environment within an institution.””
The amendment was disagreed. Content: 62 / Not Content: 132
The Bishop of Leeds voted Not Content.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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