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  • Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has held with education ministers in the devolved legislatures on proposals for English baccalaureate certificates and reforms of A-levels.

    Elizabeth Truss

    The Secretary of State met the Minister for Education for Northern Ireland and the Minister of Education and Skills for Wales on May 13 2013, along with Ofqual’s Chief Regulator Glenys Stacey, to discuss proposed reforms of GCSEs and A levels.

    In line with the concordats between the Department for Education and the Northern Ireland Government, we give the Ministers of the devolved Governments advance notice of our intentions wherever possible. Department for Education and Ofqual officials meet regularly with their counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland to discuss matters of common interest and share information. This includes GCSE and A level reforms in their respective administrations.

  • Philip Hollobone – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Philip Hollobone – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Hollobone on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral Answer of 20 January 2014 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Planning, Official Report, column 7, on major developments (new schools), what scope there is for organisations other than local education authorities to be involved in the design, planning and sponsorship of new build primary and secondary schools in major new residential developments.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    Any group or organisation can apply to the Department for Education to set up a free school. If approved, the proposers and any group members are involved in all aspects of project planning and design of the school. 175 free schools, 17 UTCs and 28 studio schools have been opened by groups including existing schools, academy sponsors, parents, teachers and community groups. A number of these have been in major new residential developments.

  • Ben Wallace – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Ben Wallace – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Wallace on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to review the list of facilitating subjects for Key Stage 5 performance tables.

    Elizabeth Truss

    The facilitating subjects are identified by the Russell Group of universities as A level subjects that are required more often than others by universities. The list includes English literature along with mathematics, further mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and languages (classical and modern).

    The Russell Group is an independent organisation; it recently reviewed the list of facilitating subjects and confirmed no change was needed. The Department for Education publishes a measure in the key stage 5 performance tables of the percentage of students achieving AAB grades at A level, including in at least two facilitating subjects.

  • Ben Wallace – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Ben Wallace – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Wallace on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will add economics, English literature and computing to the list of facilitating subjects for Key Stage 5 performance tables.

    Elizabeth Truss

    The facilitating subjects are identified by the Russell Group of universities as A level subjects that are required more often than others by universities. The list includes English literature along with mathematics, further mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and languages (classical and modern).

    The Russell Group is an independent organisation; it recently reviewed the list of facilitating subjects and confirmed no change was needed. The Department for Education publishes a measure in the key stage 5 performance tables of the percentage of students achieving AAB grades at A level, including in at least two facilitating subjects.

  • Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take to monitor how many primary schools offer a hot meal option to all pupils in reception, year one and year two from September 2014.

    Mr David Laws

    We have made it clear that, as schools implement the universal infant free school meals policy, they should ensure that pupils are routinely offered the option of a hot meal.

    We will monitor the take-up of school meals through the Schools Census for children in reception, year one and year two beginning in the autumn term of the 2014/15 academic year.

  • Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average cost was of a primary school meal in each local authority in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013.

    Mr David Laws

    The Department for Education does not hold the information requested.

  • Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which local authorities currently do not have enough childcare places available to cater for the 20 per cent most disadvantaged two-year-olds; and what the shortfall is in each such authority.

    Elizabeth Truss

    In February 2014 local authorities reported that around 103,000 two-year-olds were already accessing a funded early learning place. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that every eligible child, whose parents wish them to take a place, is able to.

  • Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which local authorities currently do not have enough childcare places available to cater for the extension of the childcare offer to the 40 per cent most disadvantaged two-year-olds in September 2014; and what the shortfall of places is in each such authority.

    Elizabeth Truss

    In February 2014 local authorities reported that around 103,000 two-year-olds were already accessing a funded early learning place. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that every eligible child, whose parents wish them to take a place, is able to.

  • Khalid Mahmood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Khalid Mahmood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Khalid Mahmood on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to remove any contractual gagging orders or similar measures applicable to staff in the West Midlands involved in the ongoing investigation into school governance in that area led by Ian Kershaw.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    The Department for Education hopes that any individual with relevant information about the serious allegations made in relation to a number of schools in Birmingham will come forward and share this with the Education Commissioner, Peter Clarke, and Ian Kershaw, the Chief Adviser for Birmingham City Council’s investigation.

    Amendments to The Employment Relations Act 1996, introduced by the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) 1998, mean that any confidentiality clauses in settlement agreements cannot have the effect of preventing a protected disclosure and any provision will be void to the extent it seeks to do so. The Department revised the model settlement agreements for new academies in January to make this absolutely clear. The PIDA Act 1998 also introduced provisions to protect workers from detrimental treatment or victimisation from their employer if, in the public interest, they blow the whistle on wrongdoing.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will make an assessment of the feasibility of granting people the right to vote in General Elections based on residency rather than nationality; and if he will make a statement.

    Greg Clark

    The Government has no plans to link the right to vote in General elections to residency rather than nationality.