Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alex Cunningham and Justine Greening

Monday 11th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Justine Greening]

We have said that we are making relationships education in primary school mandatory, because we feel that children need to go into secondary on a firm footing, understanding this area, and they can then build on that with sex education. I am happy to meet my hon. Friend and other colleagues; obviously, this is an important topic for the House.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

T7. The Minister will know how many summer-born children needlessly end up on the special needs register because of the lack of specific targets and support to help them close the gap on their older classmates. What guidance and resources is the Minister giving to schools so that children get the help they need?

Education and Local Services

Debate between Alex Cunningham and Justine Greening

Tuesday 27th June 2017 Commons Chamber

[Justine Greening]

If I could make a little progress, that would be appreciated. I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities for interventions.

As I was saying—[Interruption.] I am sorry, but there is a fly buzzing around. We are determined to build on that strong platform of success, to create an education system that works for all our children and all our young people. Equality of opportunity for everyone—wherever they are, whatever their background—is in the end unlocked only by education.

[Alex Cunningham (Stockton North) (Lab)]

The North Shore Academy in my constituency faces a spending cut of several hundred thousand pounds. It serves one of the areas that the Secretary of State is talking about—an area of high deprivation. How on earth can that be fair funding in an area of high deprivation?

[Justine Greening]

I will come on to funding later, but suffice it to say that it is important we make sure that all our schools are fairly funded. That challenge is recognised across the House. Clearly there are difficulties in doing that.