Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rebuilding Schools

Monday 21 July 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Alison Hume asked about funding for Springhead sixth form in Scarborough, noting the building is old and unsuitable.
  • The government has allocated 2.1 billion for school condition improvement in 2025-26, including 7 million for North Yorkshire.
  • Tom Gordon requested a meeting to confirm the opening of Woodfield school, a specialist school for children with autism in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alison Hume Lab Scarborough and Whitby
Education Children & Families
Context

Springhead sixth form in Scarborough is rated outstanding but faces significant physical infrastructure challenges, including housing students in an unsuitable building due to overcrowding. The school provides education for students with complex special educational needs.

Question

Springhead sixth form in Scarborough has been rated outstanding for the education and care it provides for students with complex special educational needs and disabilities. However, the staff are amazing but the sixth form is housed in an old and unsuitable building where one student was tutored in a modified corridor due to overcrowding. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that pupils with special educational needs are educated in school buildings that can match those needs?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Stephen Morgan)

We have increased funding to improve the condition of schools to £2.1 billion for 2025-26, which includes more than £7 million for North Yorkshire to invest in its maintained schools, including Springhead. Additionally, North Yorkshire has been allocated £6.8 million for 2025-26 to provide suitable and accessible school places for pupils with SEND who require alternative provision.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Tom Gordon Lib Dem Harrogate and Knaresborough
Education
Context

Woodfield school in Bilton, which was meant to open as a specialist school for children with autism, faced delays opening until September this year. The question seeks confirmation of the opening timeline.

Question

A number of years ago, Woodfield school in Bilton in my constituency was closed. It has been rebuilt as a specialist school for children with autism. Originally meant to open in September last year, it was delayed until September this year. Will the Minister meet me and confirm whether it will open on time this September?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Stephen Morgan)

I am happy to meet the hon. Member.

Partly answered

Not addressed: confirmation of opening timeline

How: Deflection

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)