Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

10.49
10.50
the students who would not have been eligible for free ESOL places are women. 92
The Further Education Minister, John Hayes, admitted in July 2011 that “British Asians, and
British Asian women, will be disproportionately affected by the changes [to ESOL funding].” 93
We are pleased that in August 2011 the Government announced that these plans are now on
hold until 2013/14 but it is worrying that these issues were not considered sooner and have
not yet been resolved. ESOL provision is key for many women moving to or already living in the
UK, to enable them to take part in society and have their and their families’ needs met. New
immigration rules also introduce tougher requirements on spouses and partners applying
for settlement (permanent residence) in the UK, that they should be required to understand
everyday English. 94 However, there is no support or ESOL provision for these people. (See
Appendix: 12 and Appendix: 8 for further information)
Recommendations:
• Increase educational settlement programmes for women new to the UK and those
who do not speak English and tackle the barriers to women’s ESOL learning by
providing childcare options and community based learning provision, including
measures to strengthen the provision of ESOL by voluntary sector community
organisations that can reach the most vulnerable groups of women
• Continue to fund free ESOL provision for those on both active and non active
benefits and ensure that fees do not make ESOL unaffordable for students in
minimum wage employment
• Discontinue the new language requirements for family migration due to be
enacted in 2013 and retain the option to take an ESOL with citizenship course for
non European Union migrants with language levels below B1 who wish to settle in
the UK
Women teachers
Women account for the majority of full-time teachers across Great Britain but just over a
third of secondary school head teachers, 95 therefore something must be done to support
their career progression. It has also been found that women teachers are still faced with
disadvantages such as a career structure not conducive to them taking breaks in service, which
is still a very common aspiration for women. 96 (See Article 11 for more information)
92. Association of Colleges (2011) ‘Government ESOL equality impact assessment – AoC comments’, 18th July 2011 http://www.aoc.co.uk/en/
newsroom/aoc_news_releases.cfm/id/4FFEDF7E-67BD-4B3B-99A6F4B445AF23F7/page/9
93. Exley, S. (2011) ‘Ethnic minority women hit hardest by ESOL cuts’, TES Connect website, 22nd July 2011 http://www.tes.co.uk/article.
aspx?storycode=6105726
94. UK Border Agency (2011) Family Migration – A Consultation, August 2011 http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/
policyandlaw/consultations/family-migration
95. Equality and Human Rights Commission (2011) Sex and Power 2011. EHRC: London http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/
sexandpower/
96. McNamara, O. (2008) Women Teachers’ Careers. NASUWT: London
96 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013