Contributions
1,309 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSchool StandardsA relatively low number of teachers from other EU countries are working in our education system. For the development of languages, for example, we could do more, and of course we…11 Mar 2019HANSARDDisadvantaged Children: Attainment GapOur reforms, backed by the £2.4 billion pupil premium, have helped schools to narrow the disadvantage attainment gap by 13% at age 11 and 9% at age 16 since 2011.11 Mar 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationAgain, there were a lot of questions in what the hon. Lady said. I am not sure I am going to be able to do justice to them by giving them all full answers, but I have a feeling…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationI give my hon. Friend the absolute assurance that that is at the heart of these proposals.25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationI absolutely join the hon. Lady in commending those organisations. As she will recall, I had the opportunity some time ago to visit her constituency and to meet some of those…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationAs a matter of course, I would not expect headteachers to overrule parents. It is difficult to codify what those exceptional circumstances might be because, by definition, they…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationI am always pleased to meet my hon. Friend and to get her particularly expert view. There is a long list of things that we could include in this guidance, and we have already…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationI too have received a lot of correspondence, and I understand that there are great sensitivities. I think it is true to say that there is no set of guidance on relationships and…25 Feb 2019HANSARDRelationships and Sex EducationToday, the Secretary of State for Education, will provide a statement to the House, updating on the Government’s proposals for the draft regulations and guidance for relationships…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationThe hon. Lady has raised a number of issues, but I should like to start by thanking her for the collaborative and co-operative cross-party way in which she and her colleagues have…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationYes, and of course I share my right hon. Friend’s deep concern. Our “Keeping children safe in education” guidance sets out what should happen on safeguarding in schools. It…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationThe hon. Lady raises an important point. Of course we expect schools to follow through on this. It is about core curriculum content, and schools do follow such guidance. It is…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationI said it earlier, but I will say it again because it bears repeating: let me express my thanks and appreciation to my right hon. Friend for the leadership she has shown on these…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationI thank the hon. Lady for her kind words. Of course, many people have been involved in this work, and I know that it has support right across the House. I join her in commending…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationMy right hon. Friend characteristically makes a very telling intervention. She is absolutely right. As we have gone through this process, I have been struck by the support that…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationI thank the hon. Lady for her words. I am so sorry to hear about the experience of the couple in her constituency. That does help to illustrate why it is so important that, from a…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationI thank my right hon. Friend for his question. I do not think I can do any better than read word for word from the guidance: “Once those discussions”— that is to say, those on the…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationI am glad to hear that the hon. Lady really enjoyed teaching these lessons. That is not true, of course, for every single teacher. Some can find it quite difficult, which makes…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationWe do not want parents to keep their children out of school. I hope I can reassure my right hon. Friend that the intention is to say that the long-standing right to withdraw…25 Feb 2019HANSARD Relationships and Sex EducationThere is a distinction to be drawn between children who are being home-educated and children who are not in school but who are sometimes statistically deemed to be home-educated…25 Feb 2019