Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Education Standards: Stoke-on-Trent

18 June 2020 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Jack Brereton Con Stoke-on-Trent South

Education

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Jack Brereton raised concerns about education standards: stoke-on-trent in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Coronavirus has impacted education severely in Stoke-on-Trent, affecting pupil attendance rates.
  • Jack Brereton praised headteachers for implementing safety measures to reopen schools.
  • The Minister acknowledged Government initiatives like opportunity areas and the academies programme to improve educational standards in Stoke-on-Trent.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Jack Brereton Con Stoke-on-Trent South

Coronavirus has had a devastating impact on education, particularly in Stoke-on-Trent where educational outcomes are still below desired levels. The immediate challenge is to get more pupils back to school and improve attendance rates. Jack Brereton praised local headteachers for reopening schools with new distancing measures but noted that attendance varies widely across the city. He emphasised the need for a concerted effort to enhance educational outcomes, especially in disadvantaged communities, and highlighted the importance of levelling up and increasing ambition among young people. The MP also discussed the lack of school places in secondary education and supported plans for a new free school to alleviate admission challenges. Additionally, he stressed the role of partnerships between academia and industry in improving local productivity and supporting advanced manufacturing.

Other contributors (1)
  • Jonathan Gullis Lab Stoke-on-Trent North

    Agreed with his hon. Friend on tackling persistent absence rates before the crisis and advocated for turbocharging apprenticeships in Stoke-on-Trent.

Government Response

Nick Gibb

The Minister congratulated Jack Brereton for securing the debate and recognised the tremendous work of headteachers and teachers in Stoke-on-Trent. He highlighted that since 2010, the Government has worked to drive up academic standards and provided support through initiatives such as opportunity areas, which includes Stoke-on-Trent with £72 million funding. Gibb also mentioned improvements at Whitfield Valley Primary School due to the academies programme and launched a trust capacity fund to help trusts expand. He noted that local authorities have been allocated £32.7 million for new schools and places between 2011 and 2022, and discussed the free schools programme with an application from Stoke-on-Trent for Florence MacWilliams Academy.

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