Topical Questions

Question

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. The Secretary of State acknowledges challenges including low childcare funding, crumbling schools estate, attendance crisis, large attainment gaps, and falling apprenticeship starts and training opportunities.

Question

Across the Macclesfield area, we have fantastic schools, but the legacy of 14 years of Conservative mismanagement means that they have some of the lowest funding in the country. Will Ministers meet me to discuss how we can turn the situation about and fund our schools properly?

Question

The Opposition share the Secretary of State's good wishes to all for the new term and the new year, but does she recall that last time Labour was in office, not only did England tumble down the world education rankings, but we ended up as the only country in the developed world where the literacy and numeracy of recent school leavers was worse than that of the generation who were about to retire? If she continues to follow the same failed Labour approach, does she expect a different result this time?

Question

As the new school year begins, far too many students in my constituency have not yet been able to secure a school place of their choice. Does my hon. Friend agree that the schools allocation policy needs a desperate overhaul? Many people believe that it is not fit for purpose. Could she tell the House what steps the Government are taking to address this extremely important issue?

Question

Disadvantaged pupils between 16 and 19 are likely to be up to four grades behind their more affluent peers. We know that funding drops by about a third at 16, yet 16-to-19 tuition was axed in July, and the pupil premium has never applied to that age group. If the Secretary of State is serious about smashing the glass ceiling, will she consider increasing funding targeted at this group?

Question

The early years sector faces significant challenges in delivering the roll-out of the expanded childcare offer promised by the last Government. The sector consistently cites the inability to recruit and retain staff as the biggest difficulty. Can the Minister confirm when the Government plan to publish the promised workforce strategy for the early years, and what opportunities there will be for the sector to have its say?

Question

As was alluded to by my right hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness (Graham Stuart), children with special educational needs and disabilities in some urban local authorities receive three times more funding than they do in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Will the Secretary of State or her Minister meet me and East Riding colleagues, so that we can secure a fairer future for our local children?

Question

Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the Shrewsbury Colleges Group on its excellent results this summer? It is a superb institution that works to drive up engagement and standards for vocational qualifications, which are vital for our industrial strategy. Will she assure it has parity with academic schools and consider booking a visit?

Question

Will the Minister meet me to discuss Devon's schools missing out on £23.5 million a year under the national funding formula? This affects particularly students in the most deprived areas.

Question

Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss my report on the impact of the VAT policy on the Steiner school in York? The school enables many children who have anxiety or would otherwise be out of education to access school. How can we keep this school open and supporting these children?

Question

Will the Secretary of State review those agreements to reflect current challenges? Will she meet me and local leaders to discuss South Gloucestershire's situation?

Question

Will the Secretary of State outline steps being taken to ensure that every child has a welcoming and safe environment at school? This includes better mental health support, breakfast clubs for primary schools, broader curriculum, and more support around SEND in mainstream settings.

Question

Can she give a 100% guarantee that multiplication times tables will not be removed from the national curriculum, given our success in PISA ratings?

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that declining standards are far from a record to be proud of? These changes impact the life chances of children in deprived areas.

Question

In my constituency, children are being unenrolled after 20 days of absence, even when there is a valid and compassionate reason for their leave. Will the Secretary of State commit herself to reviewing this harmful and punitive rule, which is leaving children in my constituency without a school for many months, and will she take steps to make the necessary changes to protect those children and their right to an education?

Question

The last Government promised to publish a register of children who were not in school. I welcome the measures taken by this Government, but can the Minister update me on the next steps towards publication of the register?

Question

Can the Minister confirm that the funding announced on 9 May by the Conservative Government for a brand-new SEND school in the county of Buckinghamshire is in no way, shape or form “under review”, and that we will get that new school?

Question

At the start of the new school year, may I wish all teachers, school staff and children in my constituency the very best for the year ahead? Does my hon. Friend agree that, as part of the curriculum review, which I warmly welcome and look forward to, we need an education system and curriculum—particularly in primary schools—with much more focus on learning through play, on oracy, and on multisensory movement and the recording of learning? That would benefit not just children with SEND, but all pupils.