Schools That Work For Everyone Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Schools That Work For Everyone

Alex Burghart Excerpts
Monday 14th May 2018

(5 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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I do not think that it is a case of either/or. As I said earlier, we know that children from disadvantaged backgrounds who go to selective schools can make more progress, but the hon. Gentleman is also right—as he often is—to say that the dissemination of good practice, which is completely separate from the question of selective or non-selective schools, is fundamental. That is why we supported the Education Endowment Foundation, and that is why sharing that best practice is at the heart of what we do.

Alex Burghart Portrait Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) (Con)
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I am grateful to the Secretary of State for saying that selective schools will have to prove that they are improving access for the most disadvantaged pupils. Will he also look into how we can make progress on the proportion of children just on the other side of the free school meals line, who have been found to be under-represented at selective schools as well?