Caroline invited Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for Education, to come to the Meriden Constituency to speak to Conservative Party supporters about the importance of educational reform and the role STEM subjects in ensuring our students have the right skills to be successful in a highly competitive job market.
How do you think we can raise the perceived value STEM subjects to reflect their real importance for students (in particular female students) and their future role in the economy?
I think, firstly, by Ministers and others making it clear that we want more young people, particularly girls to study STEM subjects for longer and by backing campaigns such as Your Life - http://yourlife.org.uk/ and, of course, yesterday's announcement from the Prime Minister that we want more great maths and science teachers send a clear signal that we value STEM subjects and they are very important to the delivery of our long term economic plan.
From a Midlands perspective the future is very bright, given the investment in major infrastructure and the strength of advanced manufacturing and life sciences sectors. All these sectors require a balance of graduate and vocational, technical skills, but the focus remains on graduates. How can we elevate and promote the role of vocational skills in a booming economy?
I think more and more everyone realises the enormous importance of vocational and technical skills. I am delighted that today sees the announcement that we have now seen 2 million apprenticeships created in this Parliament and I am a great supporter of the University Technical Colleges such as the JCB sponsored college in Staffordshire. Schools are under a duty to ensure students are advised about all opportunities open to them - including apprenticeships.
Given the insignificant improvement in the number of women in senior roles, and in industries seen as male-dominated, how can we convince both employers and women entering the workforce that there is a place for women at senior level and in these 'male' industries? As an example, at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in my constituency, less than 10% of the workforce is female.
I think those women who are in senior roles at companies such as JLR must act as role models for the next generation - but this is an issue which needs, as Emma Watson said in her recent speech to the UN, active male involvement too. Firstly we want to build a great pipeline of female talent entering sectors such as manufacturing. Then through the work of organisations such as the Women's Business Council set up by this Government we need to work with industries to see what are the hurdles women wanting to stay in the sector face and how can we all work together to overcome them - clearly childcare is an important issue but so, too, is the need for mentoring schemes and how applications for senior roles are encouraged. We have seen that critical to encouraging more women to take positions on FTSE 100 boards has been the work done with executive search firms to get them to look at a broader pool of applicants.
What do you believe the future holds for grammar schools?
I think existing grammar schools will continue in their current form and any applications for extensions will be considered according to the criteria laid down in statute. My focus is on ensuring every child has access to a good local school.