Contributions
541 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI will pick up that last point, which was very incisively made by the noble Baroness, Lady Morris. My primary school was a two-form entry primary school. It was a popular school,…16 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I will speak to a number of these amendments and I want to do it from my own experience. First, I will start with the cap on faith. If your Lordships remember, this was…16 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, as I had to go out and take an urgent phone call during the debate, I think it would be wrong for me to comment.16 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThe hour is late, so I shall be brief. This group of amendments has brought out the best in your Lordships. How people have spoken on each of these amendments I have found truly…16 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI thank the Minister for her detailed reply and all Members for their contributions. I was particularly taken by the comments from the noble Earl, Lord Effingham, who said that no…16 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI thought we might be breaking at quarter past, so you caught me unawares. My Lords, Covid seems a long time ago, and I remember very well the virtual meetings we had as Members.…16 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill16 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, this debate has been very thought-provoking. I always want to listen to what the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, has to say; she always challenges my own thoughts. We all know…16 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, this is a simple amendment. I will preface my remarks by saying that, obviously, it is important that a child is in school as often as possible because when they are not…10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI beg leave to withdraw my amendment.10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, on Amendment 426D, the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, is right. It is important that good practice is shared between home educators and local authorities, and that the quality…10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I was head of a Church of England primary school and my daughter went to a Jewish school. I am conscious that, in my home city of Liverpool, one-third of the schools are…10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI raise it only because it is a shocking condemnation of a schooling situation where young people cannot be themselves or have a proper education. I respect different religions…10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Agnew, is right: there is a crisis in the supply of teachers, not just the numbers but also, as he said, in specialism. There is also the great…10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI thank the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, for that. It has made me think, and I will come back to some of the points she made. In the 1970s, we did not have a national curriculum and…10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI shall briefly talk generally about all these amendments, which I and my party are not supporting. I ought to declare an interest as a governor of the King’s Academy, Liverpool.…10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I will speak to Amendment 448A in my name. I do so as a former membership secretary of the NUT and a former member of the National Association of Head Teachers. I could…10 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I will weigh in just on Amendment 417. Home-educating families having a flexible school term calendar will mean they benefit financially for holidays because, as we…02 Sept 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillTruth be known, I struggle with the whole issue of attendance orders. Of course we want as many of our children as possible to be regular attenders at school or an education…02 Sept 2025