Tag: Jess Phillips

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on implementation of the recommendations of the report by Charlie Taylor, Improving Alternative Provision, published in March 2012.

Nick Gibb

The Department accepted the recommendations made by Charlie Taylor in ‘Improving Alternative Provision (AP)’, and has made a number of changes in response.

We have put in place the framework for Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) to convert to AP academies and for high quality independent providers to become AP free schools. PRUs now have greater autonomy over their staffing and budgets as a result. We have revised the funding system for AP to support more informed decisions on the best AP for individual pupils.

We have ensured that Initial Teacher Training placements can now be delivered by PRUs, AP academies and AP free schools. Schools’ use of AP is now a greater focus of school inspection. We have also removed restrictions over the use of maintained schools’ power to direct pupils to be educated offsite for the purposes of improving their behaviour. We have published stronger statutory guidance on the use of AP and the education of pupils unable to attend school because of health needs.

Since the review, the Department has undertaken further research into the AP system, working with local authorities, head teachers of AP or special schools, and reviewing international evidence.

The Department announced in the White Paper published on 17 March 2016, ‘Education Excellence Everywhere’, that we will be taking further steps to build on the recommendations made in Charlie Taylor’s review in order to meet our vision for a world class system of AP. This paper is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/educational-excellence-everywhere.

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-04-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 March 2016 to Question 30916, if she will publish details of the 26 related party transactions by academy trusts classified as irregular or improper by the Education Funding Agency.

Edward Timpson

Related party transactions by academy trusts can be classified as irregular or improper if they are not dealt with in accordance with Parliament’s intentions, legislation, the terms of the trust’s funding agreement, the Academies Financial Handbook or the trust’s internal procedures. This includes spending money other than for the purposes intended by Parliament or without the appropriate standards of conduct.

Academy trusts operate under a robust accountability system which holds them to account for the results they achieve and their use of resources. This includes a requirement to publish audited accounts each year allowing the wider public the chance to hold academy trusts to account to help make sure that spend is securing better outcomes for pupils.

The 26 related party transactions are irregular and noted in the table below (together with our findings from reviewing 2013/14 financial statements). It is important to note that irregular classification can occur where there is insufficient evidence to form an opinion.

Concern type	Summary of concern	Number of breaches
At cost	The trust either confirmed that services from a related party were not provided at cost or there was insufficient evidence of this.	5
Off-payroll	The trust confirmed that they were not compliant with HM Treasury’s off-payroll requirements for a senior member of staff.	5
Procurement	The trust confirmed they did not follow an adequate procurement process for certain purchases from a related party.	6
Procurement issues/ recruitment of family	The trust confirmed they did not follow an adequate procurement process for certain purchases from a familial related party.	1
Procurement/ at cost	The trust confirmed they did not follow an adequate procurement process for certain purchases from a related party. The trust also either confirmed that services from a related party were not provided at cost or there was insufficient evidence of this.	9

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-04-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy schools are (a) in the process of being re-brokered and (b) awaiting re-brokering.

Edward Timpson

There have been 130 academies and free schools (2% of academies) moved from a trust that had not been able to secure necessary improvements, to a strong sponsor. Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) are looking at the appropriate action to take with those that currently have no formal action, working with trusts to improve school performance or looking at sponsor solutions where they feel that the trust is not meeting the required standards.

The table below shows the numbers of academies which have been re-brokered to other academy sponsors, split by academic year.

Academic Year	Number of academies re-brokered to other academy sponsors
2011/12	2
2012/13	2
2013/14	13
2014/15	64
2015/16	49
Total	130

There are 38 academies in the process of moving from a trust that has not been able to secure necessary improvements, to a strong sponsor.

The Department does not hold information on the number of academies which are awaiting re-brokerage. RSCs will work with schools in a number of ways before considering moving them to a new sponsor.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-05-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 11 May 2016 to Question 35798, on Academies Sponsorship, how many of the re-brokered schools in each year since 2010 had been graded inadequate by Ofsted.

Edward Timpson

60 of the 130 academies and free schools that have been re-brokered since 2010 had been graded inadequate by Ofsted.

The remaining academies and free schools were re-brokered because Regional Schools Commissioners identified weaknesses in those schools that could be better addressed by a new sponsor.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department spent on travel and accommodation for civil servants accompanying the Minister of State for Schools on official business since July 2014.

Nick Gibb

Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at a disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-07-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what (a) legal and (b) other costs were incurred by local authorities in relation to special educational needs and disability tribunals in each of the last five years.

Mr Marcus Jones

Information on the costs incurred by local authorities in relation to special educational needs and disability tribunals is not collected by the Department.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many level 2 apprenticeships have been available in her Department in each year since 2010; how many such apprenticeships were completed in full; and how many such apprentices subsequently progressed to level 3 or above.

Robert Halfon

The table below shows numbers of apprentices in the Department for Education in each financial year since 2009/10.

Financial Year	Number of Apprentices in DfE	Level
2009/2010	19	All Level 3
2010/2011	12	all Levels 2 and 3
2011/2012	0
2012/2013	32	all Levels 2 and 3
2013/2014	15	all Level 4
2014/2015	34	20 Level 4 14 Levels 2 and 3
2015/16	64	48 Level 4 16 Levels 2 and 3

The Level 4 apprentices were all from the Civil Service Fast-track apprenticeship scheme, which lasts at least two years. The Level 2 and Level 3 apprentices were recruited directly by the Department.

The Department does not hold information about progression between levels or numbers completing apprenticeships.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-10-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many university technical colleges have fewer pupils on roll than they have capacity for.

Edward Timpson

46 of 48 UTCs have opened since 2013 and understandably it will take a number of years for these UTCs to reach full capacity. To date only the JCB Academy, which opened in 2010, has reached full capacity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2014 to Question 17343, what free schools her Department funded for 2014-15; how many children were enrolled at each such school in the autumn term 2014; and for how many children each such school received funding for the academic year 2014-15.

Edward Timpson

To allow response to PQ 18764, please find attached an Excel workbook detailing:

– The Free Schools, Studio Schools and University Technical Colleges (UTCs) open as at 1^st September 2014;

– Their funded pupil numbers for the academic year 2014 to 2015;

– Their recorded pupil numbers as per the October 2014 school census.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have represented themselves as litigants in person in (a) civil, (b) criminal and (c) family courts in 2015-16 to date.

Mr Shailesh Vara

The Ministry of Justice does not collect information centrally on Litigants in Person in civil related court cases, criminal court cases or family court cases.