Asked by: Gerald Howarth (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance she has given to Ofsted on (a) respecting the religious ethos of faith schools and the legal framewirk governing them, (b) exemptions for faith schools under the Equality Act 2010 and (c) the requirements of the law governing assemblies and religious education.
Answered by Edward Timpson
It is for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools to determine what advice or guidance inspectors need to inspect particular matters, drawing on relevant guidance that has been issued to schools by the Department for Education and on statutory requirements.
Asked by: Gerald Howarth (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance she has given to Ofsted about age-appropriate questioning of pupils regarding sexuality and transsexualism during inspections.
Answered by David Laws
No guidance has been given by the Department for Education on this matter as the issuing of guidance to Ofsted inspectors is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw.
Asked by: Gerald Howarth (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will investigate reports by parents of pupils at Grindon Hall Christian School and Durham Free School that complaints to Ofsted about age-inappropriate and religiously hostile questioning of their children by inspectors were not investigated.
Answered by David Laws
Any complaints about the conduct of Ofsted inspectors are a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector. I understand that Ofsted is investigating matters raised by the schools and by some parents and will respond to these in due course.
Asked by: Gerald Howarth (Conservative - Aldershot)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy that VAT should be applied to sixth form colleges in the same terms as mainstream schools with sixth forms.
Answered by David Laws
Ministers have said publicly (since December 2013) that they are sympathetic to sixth form colleges' requests for assistance towards their VAT costs, but that it is not affordable to provide this in financial years 2014-15 or 2015-16.