The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what score an entrant needed to achieve to be awarded a C grade in each GCSE paper in each of the last five years.
Nick Gibb
The Department for Education does not hold the requested information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of GCSE A to C grades achieved in each of the last three years were C grades.
Nick Gibb
The information requested is published in Table 11 of the “Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: statistical first release” series [1], [2], [3].
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2013-to-2014
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools offer elementary GCSEs where C is the highest possible grade.
Nick Gibb
The Department for Education does not hold the requested information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Ofsted in improving standards in schools; what data she uses to make that assessment; and if she will publish that data.
Nick Gibb
Responsibility for improving standards in schools lies with head teachers. Ofsted inspection is one of a range of measures which support accountability and school improvement.
Ofsted has recently introduced new school inspection arrangements and has increased the proportion of inspectors which are current school leaders. Ofsted will monitor the impact of these changes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make representations to Staffordshire and West Midlands Rehabilitation Company on ensuring jobs are not lost by the planned transfer of responsibilities for probation service administration staff to Derby.
Andrew Selous
Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs), including Staffordshire and West Midlands CRC, set out an agreed operating model within their bids during the Transforming Rehabilitation competition. These bids were rigorously scrutinised before contracts were awarded. A thorough evaluation process was undertaken to assess the operational viability of the bids in the wider context of public protection and reducing reoffending.
All CRCs are contractually required to maintain a professional and appropriately skilled workforce to deliver the services set out in their contracts. The MoJ closely monitors the performance of CRCs, in line with government standards, to make sure they fulfil their contractual commitments to maintain service delivery, reduce reoffending and deliver value for money to the taxpayer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what advice his Department issues to local authorities on advising private rented sector tenants subject to court orders for possession on the steps they should take to find accommodation.
Brandon Lewis
The statutory Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities includes advice and guidance to authorities on the actions they can take to prevent homelessness where a person is at risk of eviction from a property. This includes negotiation with landlords or with help to address rent arrears for example. It also explains how authorities should carry out their homelessness duties where eviction takes place.
We have also introduced protections for tenants against “retaliatory eviction”. Where a tenant makes a genuine complaint about the condition of their property that has not been addressed by their landlord, their complaint has been verified by a local authority inspection, and the local authority has served either an improvement notice or a notice of emergency remedial action, a landlord cannot evict that tenant for 6 months using the ‘no-fault’ eviction procedure (a section 21 eviction). A ‘no fault’ eviction is one where the tenant does not have to have done anything wrong, for example not paying the rent, to be asked to leave. The landlord is also required to ensure that the repairs are completed. These rules, set out in the Deregulation Act 2015, apply to all new assured shorthold tenancies that start on or after 1 October 2015. A guidance note is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/465275/Retaliatory_Eviction_Guidance_Note.pdf
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support private landlords in evicting tenants who are in breach of contract.
Brandon Lewis
Assured shorthold tenancies give landlords the automatic right to possession at the end of the initial fixed term on giving the tenant two months’ notice. Possession through the courts can also be sought before the end of the initial fixed period, where the tenant has broken certain terms of the tenancy, such as by not paying the rent.
We have made it easier for landlords to evict a tenant where it would be legitimate to do so, by introducing a prescribed form of notice which will reduce errors and remove the need for a landlord to specify the exact date a tenancy comes to an end, while retaining the requirement to give two months’ notice. The legislation came into effect on 1 October 2015 and we have published guidance and the required forms are at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/465275/Retaliatory_Eviction_Guidance_Note.pdf
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what average scores are required to achieve Level 4 in (a) reading and (b) mathematics.
Nick Gibb
Information on the point score equivalent of a Level 4 in all KS2 subjects in 2014 can be found at the following link: www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/primary_14/KS2_2014_point_score.docx
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the case for enabling schools to pay an allowance to school governors in recognition of their time, expertise and service.
Nick Gibb
The government recognises the crucial role of governors and values their expertise and dedication. As we move towards an increasingly school-led system, governance will need to be more effective with more highly skilled people governing groups of individual schools. The government, however, remains committed to the principle of voluntary service for governors and we have no plans to enable governors to be paid beyond the specific circumstances set out in section 7.6 of the Governors’ Handbook. This handbook can be found online at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/governors-handbook–3
Academy trusts are independent charities. Their governors are therefore also charity trustees who must comply with Charity Law. This means that they can only receive payment for carrying out trustee duties if this payment is specifically allowed by the academy’s governing document or has express authorisation from the Charity Commission. Any change to allow payment to trustees would need Charity Commission authorisation.
Governors in maintained schools and academies can receive allowances or expenses to cover costs they have incurred because of serving as a governor.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) quality and (b) adequacy of the number of Ofsted inspectors.
Nick Gibb
The assessment of the quality or adequacy of Ofsted inspectors is the responsibility of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector.