Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how (a) teachers and (b) other school staff will be deployed between schools due to school closures during the covid-19 outbreak; what powers (i) local authorities and (ii) academy trusts will have during that period; and what steps he is taking to ensure that there is effective co-ordination between those organisations and (A) nurseries and (B) other childcare providers.
Answered by Nick Gibb
We understand that this is a very difficult time for teachers – we are asking a lot of them and all school staff to help the country fight this virus.
Once schools have assessed their demand and capacity, they should liaise with their local authority to establish whether any staff need to be moved to an alternative setting. We have set out in guidance (published 22 March 2020) that local authorities will need to work closely with educational settings to ensure sufficient provision is available across the local area. Local authorities and educational settings may need to redeploy staff, such as teachers, support staff or other critical workers. They may need to do this across the usual boundaries of maintained, academy, college or other status to ensure the right staff are in the right settings.
Parliament has passed the Coronavirus Act 2020, which includes powers to direct schools and other educational settings, including academies and independent schools, to close, open, re-open or remain open. The Act allows my right hon. Friend, Secretary of State for Education, to delegate these powers to local authorities. The Act also supports schools to stay open by granting powers to the Secretary of State to relax certain elements of education law which would be impossible to fulfil in the current circumstances.
Local authorities are also responsible for coordinating the response to these new arrangements and we expect them to work with schools, nurseries, childminders and others to ensure that different settings are supported to stay open wherever possible, taking into account their circumstances and cohort to ensure there is adequate provision.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, will Academy conversions be suspended during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department is focused on the welfare of pupils and all those who work in the education system at this time. Ofsted has currently suspended routine inspections so the Department will not be issuing new academy orders to schools judged inadequate.
For schools which were due to convert on 1 April 2020, where possible these conversions will still proceed to reduce uncertainty over the status of these schools.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the practical implications of maintaining safeguarding checks for adults working with children in the event that education providers share staffing resources during the covid-19 oubreak.
Answered by Vicky Ford
It is essential that schools and colleges continue with their statutory duties regarding safer recruitment during the COVID-19 state. Schools and colleges are still required to ensure that those working in their settings are suitable to work in the children’s workforce. The department has published safeguarding guidance, to help schools and colleges who are providing care for vulnerable children and children of critical workers to keep those children (anyone under the age of 18) safe whilst they are at school or college:
This guidance includes advice on the portability of Disclosure and Barring Service checks where members of the school or college workforce are already engaging in regulated activity and have the appropriate check for that workforce. Schools and colleges should carry out a risk assessment in these circumstances as they would for a volunteer. Where schools and colleges are utilising volunteers, they should continue to follow the checking and risk assessment process as set out in the statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his oral contribution of 2 March 2020, Official Report columns 603-604, when he plans to respond to the letter he has received from Dr Jo Grady, General Secretary of the University and College Union, in relation to the union's current industrial action.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
I can confirm that the department received the letter from Dr Jo Grady on 2 March 2020. A response is currently being drafted and will be sent out to Dr Grady in due course.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what was the (a) revenue of and (b) capital expenditure on specialist maths schools in each year since 2010.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Revenue expenditure:
Academic years | Total Revenue |
2010/11 | £0 |
2011/12 | £0 |
2012/13 | £180,000 |
2013/14 | £420,000 |
2014/15 | £1,754,415 |
2015/16 | £1,992,761 |
2016/17 | £1,906,776 |
2017/18 | £1,847,182 |
2018/19 | £2,259,094 |
2019/20 | £2,386,860 |
Total | £12,747,087 |
Both before and after opening, maths schools receive core funding in line with other new post-16 schools. Maths schools receive some additional funding in return for delivering key aspects of the maths school model, which includes significant outreach work with teachers and students in schools in their surrounding areas to increase both maths A level participation and maths GCSE and A level attainment. Details are available here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/822102/20190723_-_Proposer_guidance_-_maths_schools_-_update.pdf.
In order to serve the whole of the south west, Exeter Mathematics School also provides boarding accommodation for a small number of students and receives a residential accommodation grant in order for students from financially disadvantaged/low income backgrounds who live too far away for a daily commute to attend.
All core and additional revenue expenditure is included in the table above.
The Department publishes overall capital costs for all free schools, including maths schools on GOV.UK once all works are completed and costs are finalised. Given that these can be large and complex projects, this can take some time between first opening and publication. Additional finalised capital costs for individual free schools and maths schools will be published in due course. Final capital costs are published here:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/863262/Capital_Funding_for_Free_Schools__UTCs_and_Studio__Schools_.ods.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many universities have made a commitment to sponsor a specialist maths school in each region of England.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Seven universities have made a commitment to sponsor a specialist maths school: University of Cambridge, Durham University, University of Exeter, King’s College London, Lancaster University, University of Liverpool, and University of Surrey. The Department is working to open 11 maths schools, with at least one in every region.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take to support children eligible for free school meals in the event that schools are closed in response to the covid-19 outbreak, and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The advice from Public Health England (PHE) remains that childcare facilities and schools should stay open unless advised otherwise by PHE. However, the department is aware that pupils eligible for free school meals will miss out if their school is closed, or they are asked to self-isolate. We are closely monitoring the situation, and we are working closely with other government departments to consider what action can be taken. We recognise the challenge this could place on families and schools and education providers.
The department has launched a dedicated telephone and email service to allow quick access to the latest help and support for schools and parents. The purpose of the helpline is to ensure consistent and accurate information reaches education providers and should help ensure providers feel well-supported.
Details of the helpline:
Phone: 0800 046 8687 (8am to 6pm - Monday to Friday)
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education's oral contribution of 2 March 2020, official report, columns 598-9, if it will remain his policy to provide a free school meal to all infant schoolchildren for the next five years.
Answered by Vicky Ford
This government is committed to ensuring that children are well nourished and develop healthy eating habits that stay with them for the rest of their lives. We are making a significant investment in free school meals for children and have confirmed the funding arrangements for Universal Infant Free School Meals for the current academic year. Arrangements for 2020/21 will be confirmed in due course and funding arrangements after this date will be confirmed as part of the next Spending Review.