Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to remove the 50% cap on faith-based admissions at (a) academies and (b) free schools.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The diversity of schools in this country is one of our education system’s most valuable assets and faith schools play a pivotal role in that by providing high-quality school places and choice for parents. This government remains committed in its support for faith schools.
Faith school providers, including churches, are among the largest providers of academy trusts. As the department moves to an education system that is increasingly based on schools being part of strong academy trusts, the department needs to ensure that it is making the best and full use of the talents of all trusts. This includes having mechanism in place for all providers to open new schools.
As the department continues to uphold diversity and quality education for all, it is keeping all policies, including the 50% faith admissions cap for free schools with a faith designation, under review to ensure that this country’s education system is world leading.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her planned timetable is for publication of the latest Relationships, Sex, Health and Education statutory guidance.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
The department aims to be in a position to publish a draft of the guidance for the consultation very shortly so that the new guidance will be available as soon as possible this year.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19580 on Music: Education, when she plans to announce the funding rates and allocations to cover the increase in employer contribution rates for existing non-local authority Music Hubs until August 2024.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
In light of the increase in employer contributions to the Teacher’s Pension Scheme (TPS) from April 2024, the department will take steps to determine the level of employer liability across all the newly appointed Music Hub Lead Organisations from September 2024. This has not been possible until recently, as applicants were informed of the outcome of the Music Hubs Investment Programme on 8 April 2024. The department will then work with Arts Council England in giving due consideration to the additional pension pressures due to the increase in employer contribution to the TPS. The outcome of this assessment will be published in the coming months.
The department has already secured £1.25 billion to support eligible settings with the increased TPS employer contribution rate in the 2024/25 financial year. This will mean additional funding of £9.3 million to local authorities for centrally employed teachers, including those employed in local authority based music hubs. The department has now published the details of the additional funding for mainstream schools, high needs and local authorities with centrally employed teachers.
The department has also committed to providing funding to cover the increase in employer contribution rates for non-local authority hubs for the current academic year to August 2024 and Arts Council England has communicated allocations to the relevant hub lead organisations.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2024 to Question 19580 on Music: Education, what assessment her Department has made of the ability of non-local authority Music Hubs to pay for employer contribution rates after August 2024.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
In light of the increase in employer contributions to the Teacher’s Pension Scheme (TPS) from April 2024, the department will take steps to determine the level of employer liability across all the newly appointed Music Hub Lead Organisations from September 2024. This has not been possible until recently, as applicants were informed of the outcome of the Music Hubs Investment Programme on 8 April 2024. The department will then work with Arts Council England in giving due consideration to the additional pension pressures due to the increase in employer contribution to the TPS. The outcome of this assessment will be published in the coming months.
The department has already secured £1.25 billion to support eligible settings with the increased TPS employer contribution rate in the 2024/25 financial year. This will mean additional funding of £9.3 million to local authorities for centrally employed teachers, including those employed in local authority based music hubs. The department has now published the details of the additional funding for mainstream schools, high needs and local authorities with centrally employed teachers.
The department has also committed to providing funding to cover the increase in employer contribution rates for non-local authority hubs for the current academic year to August 2024 and Arts Council England has communicated allocations to the relevant hub lead organisations.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on steps to help improve boys' mental health.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care meet regularly to discuss a variety of issues, including children’s mental health.
Mental health issues can have a long-lasting effect and it is important that boys are equipped to look after their own wellbeing and receive support when they need it. The department has taken steps to ensure schools can support all pupils with mental health and wellbeing and, within that, make sure they are reaching boys. The department works closely with the Department for Health and Social Care on delivery of shared commitments in the Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision Green Paper, including the department’s offer of senior mental health lead training for all schools and colleges and the continued rollout of Mental Health Support Teams.
To tackle any stigma boys may feel in relation to seeking or offering help, the department has made mental health and wellbeing, and the tackling of gender stereotypes, a compulsory part of the curriculum for all schools. Curriculum content on respectful relationships covers stereotypes of masculinity and femininity, and content on mental wellbeing includes knowing how to talk about emotions accurately and sensitively.
The department is also looking at improving access to wider activities that can help boys to develop supportive relationships and social skills and support their wellbeing.
Apr. 29 2024
Source Page: Protective security and preparedness for education settingsApr. 29 2024
Source Page: Protective security and preparedness for education settingsApr. 29 2024
Source Page: Protective security and preparedness for education settingsApr. 29 2024
Source Page: Protective security and preparedness for education settings