Contributions
198 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWorking From Home (Home-based Working Committee Report)My Lords, I join the chorus of congratulations to the noble Baroness, Lady Scott of Needham Market, and her committee for the excellent and relevant report. To inject a personal…10 Jun 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I shall speak to Motion D on the phone ban. The Minister talked about strengthening guidance and Ofsted being able to inspect schools’ mobile phone policies, but I speak…20 Apr 2026HANSARDCurriculum and Assessment ReviewMy Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Freyberg for getting this important debate and declare, as ever, that I am a secondary school teacher. Several people have asked me recently…26 Mar 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I will speak briefly to Motion K1 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Barran. I thank the Bill team and the Minister for our very useful meeting yesterday, and, as…25 Mar 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I will speak to Motion L1, and I am looking round to see where everybody is. The Minister described Motion L1 as a “last resort” and, when we met them yesterday, the…25 Mar 2026HANSARDMedia Literacy (Communications and Digital Committee Report)My Lords, I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Keeley, for securing this important debate and the committee on an excellent report. As ever, I declare my interest as a teacher.…16 Mar 2026HANSARDSpecial Educational Needs: DyscalculiaMy Lord, I declare my interest as a teacher, as ever. There is no clear national definition of dyscalculia. However many national schools hubs you have and however much teacher…10 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I will speak to Amendments 235BA, 235CB and 235CC, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, to which I have added my name. I associate myself with all the amendments…05 Mar 2026HANSARDSchools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and ThrivingMy Lords, I congratulate the Government. As a teacher, I think this is an amazing document and I look forward to talking about it a lot more. Something I particularly love about…24 Feb 2026HANSARDV-levelsMy Lords, as an ex-head of department, I can assure everybody that it is the heads of department who get to choose the exams in a school. Schools are finding it really difficult…23 Feb 2026HANSARDUnder-16s Energy Drinks BanMy Lords, does the Minister agree with me—working, as I do, with children as a teacher—that there is a certain irony in banning sports drinks for sale to children yet allowing…10 Feb 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I shall speak mainly to Amendment 206, but, as somebody who has taught more PSHE days than he cares to remember, I think I might make a few comments on this one. I have…03 Feb 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I shall speak to Amendment 199, to which I have added my name. In this, I am channelling my inner Baroness Wolf of Dulwich—the noble Baroness sends her apologies that…03 Feb 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I have spoken on this issue so many times in this House that I am not going to repeat myself—really—except to say that I have never taught in a school that allows mobile…03 Feb 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI will speak very briefly to Amendment 217. I know from my own teaching experience—and anyone who has seen the film documentary “Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis” will…03 Feb 2026HANSARDErasmus+ Eligibility: Asylum SeekersMy Lords—29 Jan 2026HANSARDErasmus+ Eligibility: Asylum SeekersMy Lords, I think we all know what I do for a living. I welcome our rejoining of Erasmus+ but, to follow on from the question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Mohammed of Tinsley, it…29 Jan 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I support all the amendments in this group, particularly Amendment 117, in the names of the noble Lord, Lord Young of Acton, and the noble Baroness, Lady Spielman, and…28 Jan 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I will speak very briefly to add my name and voice to the force of nature that is my noble friend Lord Bird. We have heard points made forcefully by all noble Lords…28 Jan 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI am indeed a schoolteacher. Every day in Hackney I see the effects of poverty. We still have 55% free school meals in our school. Schoolteachers are very used to targets. Every…28 Jan 2026