Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consultations he plans to undertake on the future of University Academy Warrington; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
On Thursday 28 June 2018, the University of Chester Academies Trust published a statement saying it has agreed the best option for each of its academies is to join another trust. This is in the light of ongoing educational and financial challenges at the trust. Ofsted has judged two of its academies as inadequate and the trust was made subject to a Financial Notice to Improve in May 2018.
The department’s priority is to ensure all pupils receive the best possible education. In this case, officials are working closely with a range of stakeholders to secure the future of the trust’s academies, including University of Academy Warrington, with minimum disruption for the pupils involved. Consultation with those impacted by the rebrokerage of an academy from one trust to another is usually led by the academy trusts involved.
The Regional School Commissioner’s Office is in communication with University Academy Warrington, its governing body and the local authority in relation to the rebrokerage.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he is taking steps to ensure that University Academy Warrington is effectively managed as a result of reports of its financial problems from the University of Chester Academies Trust; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The finances of any academy, its governance and academic performance are managed and overseen at trust level. University of Chester Academies Trust (UCAT) is accountable for the effective management of University Academy Warrington. The Financial Notice to Improve (FNtI) issued on 4 May 2018 to the trust enables the Education and Skills Funding Agency to hold the trust to account and sets conditions that the trust must meet. The West Midlands Regional Schools Commissioner continues to work with the trust to strengthen both governance and educational standards.
We are holding the UCAT board to account on a regular basis to assess the support and recovery plans they are putting in place for all their academies. Together with the FNtI, that has been issued, the continued scrutiny and challenge, there is a determined commitment to resolving this situation and improving the outcomes for all pupils.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an assessment of the management performance of the University of Chester Academies Trust as a result of its reporting a financial deficit; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has provided additional funding to the University of Chester Academies Trust (the trust) to support the continuity of school operations and to ensure the ongoing delivery of education for all pupils within its schools.
The Department for Education has assessed the performance of the trust and challenged its governance arrangements. This led to the appointment of a new CEO in October 2017 and the University of Chester taking a more proactive role in the trust. It also resulted in the ESFA issuing a Financial Notice to Improve (FNtI) on 4 May 2018, reflecting the weak financial management at the trust.
A link to the FnTI published on the Department for Education website on 11 May 2018 can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/705304/UniversityofChesterTrust_FNTI.pdf.
The FNtI sets out the requirements to improve financial management, control and governance at the trust. Officials continue to work closely with the trust to bring about the required levels of improvements.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether emergency funding has been provided by the Education and Skills Funding Agency to the University of Chester Academies Trust; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has provided additional funding to the University of Chester Academies Trust (the trust) to support the continuity of school operations and to ensure the ongoing delivery of education for all pupils within its schools.
The Department for Education has assessed the performance of the trust and challenged its governance arrangements. This led to the appointment of a new CEO in October 2017 and the University of Chester taking a more proactive role in the trust. It also resulted in the ESFA issuing a Financial Notice to Improve (FNtI) on 4 May 2018, reflecting the weak financial management at the trust.
A link to the FnTI published on the Department for Education website on 11 May 2018 can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/705304/UniversityofChesterTrust_FNTI.pdf.
The FNtI sets out the requirements to improve financial management, control and governance at the trust. Officials continue to work closely with the trust to bring about the required levels of improvements.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the average weekly cost of childcare in Warrington for a child (a) under two and (b) two to four years of age.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The department collects and publishes data on the regional weekly cost of childcare through our regular ‘Childcare and early years survey of parents’. These can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-childcare-and-early-years.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of nursing students who have received incorrect payments from the Student Loans Company and who have been told that money will as a result be deducted from their future payments.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
793 Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions students are currently known to have received an overpayment of student support as a result of an error by the Student Loans Company (SLC).
The government announced on 18 April that the SLC will provide support to ensure that none of the students affected by the error suffer hardship.
Students affected by this will be eligible to apply for additional, non-repayable, support of up to £1,000 for the remainder of this academic year, and should contact the SLC. In addition, repayment of overpaid maintenance support will be deferred for all students affected until they have finished their courses and can afford to repay.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that nursing students who have received incorrect payments from the Student Loans Company are not forced to leave their courses on account of reductions to their payments in the new term.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The government announced on 18 April 2018 that the Student Loans Company (SLC) will provide support to ensure that none of the students affected by the error suffer hardship. Students affected by this error will be eligible to apply for additional, non-repayable, support of up to £1,000 for the remainder of this academic year, and should contact SLC. In addition, repayment of overpaid maintenance support will be deferred for all students affected until they have finished their courses and can afford to repay. Repayment of overpaid maintenance loans will happen via HM Revenue and Customs in the normal way, which is how students will have expected to repay when they took out the loans.
Asked by: Helen Jones (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken to ensure that (a) academies and (b) free schools admit a reasonable proportion of children with disabilities and special needs; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
All state funded schools, including academies and free schools, have the same responsibilities with regard to children with special educational needs and disability (SEND). This includes admitting all children whose Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan names the school and using their best endeavors to make the provision required to meet the special educational needs of those pupils.
The School Admissions Code also requires children and young people with SEND to be treated fairly and prohibits admission authorities refusing admission to a child who has SEND but does not have an EHC plan because they do not feel able to cater for those needs. They must also not refuse to admit a child on the grounds that they do not have an EHC plan.
If the school named in the EHC plan refuses to admit a child, it can be directed to do so.