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62256

registered interest
date	17/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Magna Carta
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will estimate the cost of sending a copy of the Magna Carta to every school.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	201015
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Magna Carta and the emergence of Parliament are included within the new history curriculum, to be taught in maintained secondary schools from September 2014.</p><p>To support teachers to commemorate the 800<sup>th</sup> anniversary, a range of projects and resources are being provided by Parliament and others for primary and secondary school pupils.</p><p>We have no plans to send a copy of the Magna Carta to every school and therefore have not made an estimate of what this might cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 23/06/2014 10:05:13 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

61957

registered interest
date	16/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Science: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to increase the proportion of girls taking separate science at GCSE.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
tabling member printed	Mr Liam Byrne
uin	200798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p>The number of girls taking separate science GCSEs increased between 2010 and 2013 from 53,000 to 74,800 (41%) in biology, from 51,400 to 73,600 (43%) in chemistry and from 50,700 to 73,200 (44%) in physics. Girls now make up approximately 49% of all those taking each of the separate sciences, compared to approximately 45% in 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to increasing take-up of separate science GCSEs, including increasing the proportion of girls as part of its commitment to improve overall take up of STEM subjects at A level and beyond.</p><p> </p><p>The “Your Life” Campaign, launched in May 2014, brings together business, educators, civil society and government to show how science and mathematics leads to exciting, successful careers. This will include a publicity campaign aimed at 14-16 year olds, which will aim to change the way they think about science-based subjects from boring, specialist and niche to empowering, exciting, enabling and for everyone.</p><p> </p><p>We are funding the Triple Science Support Programme to provide intensive support to schools with either no take-up or relatively low take-up of all three separate science GCSEs, and more general support to all other schools. We are also funding the Stimulating Physics Network to increase progression to physics A level, especially of girls. Much of the work the network does focuses on improving engagement and interest of pupils in physics at GCSE.</p><p> </p><p>Excellent teaching is vital and we are offering bursaries worth up to £20,000 and teacher training scholarships worth £25,000 to recruit more specialist science teachers. We are also funding up to 50 local science learning partnerships to provide CPD for existing science teachers.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Business Innovation and Skills funds the STEM Ambassadors programme, a nationwide network of over 27,000 volunteers from industry and academia, 40% of whom are women, who work with schools across the UK to raise awareness of the range of careers that STEM qualifications can offer.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 23/06/2014 10:02:18 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1171 label Biography information for Liam Byrne

62034

registered interest
date	16/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Chief Scientific Advisers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many meetings he has had with his Department's Chief Scientific Adviser in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hodge Hill
tabling member printed	Mr Liam Byrne
uin	200786
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2014 answer text <p>As was the case under previous administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 23/06/2014 09:40:52 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1171 label Biography information for Liam Byrne

62037

registered interest
date	16/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Polling Stations: Schools
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of school closure for local elections on parents and children.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
tabling member printed	Richard Burden
uin	200820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department has made no such assessment. Local returning officers can require a school to act as a polling station and may do so where no suitable alternative venue is available. It is often possible for schools to remain open in such circumstances, but whether to close is an operational decision for the headteacher. We expect headteachers to keep schools open whenever it is reasonable for them to do so.</p><p> </p><p>Where a headteacher decides to close a school on polling day, we expect them to take all necessary steps to minimise any damage to pupils' education. This may include making up the missed day later in the year, or combining the day with one of the five annual training days. We also expect schools to give as much notice as possible to parents of any school closures, including for local elections.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 19/06/2014 16:18:23 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

61861

registered interest
date	13/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Reading: Teaching Methods
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Phonic Screening Check.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	200732
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education is evaluating the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check through a three-year externally-commissioned independent evaluation, undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evaluation is now in the final year. The first two reports have been published and can be found online:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation</a></p><p>There are no plans to discontinue the Phonics Screening Check.</p><p>The Department piloted the Phonics Screening Check in 300 primary schools in 2011, prior to national roll-out in 2012. The evaluation report on the pilot can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation</a></p><p>We have also published annual technical reports evaluating the validity and reliability of the Check. The first of these reports was based on the pilot and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report</a></p><p>The technical reports since the national roll-out can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 200733 200734 question first answered 18/06/2014 16:28:01 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

61862

registered interest
date	13/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Reading: Teaching Methods
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Government plans to evaluate the introduction of the Phonic Screening Check and take a decision on its continuation.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	200733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education is evaluating the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check through a three-year externally-commissioned independent evaluation, undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evaluation is now in the final year. The first two reports have been published and can be found online:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation</a></p><p>There are no plans to discontinue the Phonics Screening Check.</p><p>The Department piloted the Phonics Screening Check in 300 primary schools in 2011, prior to national roll-out in 2012. The evaluation report on the pilot can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation</a></p><p>We have also published annual technical reports evaluating the validity and reliability of the Check. The first of these reports was based on the pilot and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report</a></p><p>The technical reports since the national roll-out can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 200732 200734 question first answered 18/06/2014 16:28:01 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

61863

registered interest
date	13/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Reading: Teaching Methods
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the information considered by his Department ahead of making the decision to introduce the Phonic Screening Check.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	200734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education is evaluating the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check through a three-year externally-commissioned independent evaluation, undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evaluation is now in the final year. The first two reports have been published and can be found online:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation</a></p><p>There are no plans to discontinue the Phonics Screening Check.</p><p>The Department piloted the Phonics Screening Check in 300 primary schools in 2011, prior to national roll-out in 2012. The evaluation report on the pilot can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation</a></p><p>We have also published annual technical reports evaluating the validity and reliability of the Check. The first of these reports was based on the pilot and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report</a></p><p>The technical reports since the national roll-out can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 200732 200733 question first answered 18/06/2014 16:28:01 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

61656

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Written Questions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many parliamentary questions tabled to his Department in the last parliamentary Session did not receive a substantive answer by the time of the 2014 prorogation; and when each such question was first tabled.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Moor View
tabling member printed	Alison Seabeck
uin	200445
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Two parliamentary questions tabled to the Department for Education, PQs 198493 (tabled on 13/5/2014) and 198434 (tabled on 12/5/2014), did not receive substantive answers by the time of prorogation. The questions had reply on dates during prorogation, and therefore could not be answered due to the House's rules regarding notice periods.</p><p> </p><p>As a courtesy, both Members have been sent copies of the answers that they would have received had the Department been permitted to give the answers in the usual way.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 19/06/2014 16:15:37 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1552 label Biography information for Alison Seabeck

61663

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Education: Basic Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to ensure a high standard of teaching in numeracy and literacy.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	200344
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>We have published a more rigorous curriculum for English and mathematics. The new national curriculum sets expectations that match those in the highest-performing education jurisdictions in the world, challenging pupils to realise their potential in an increasingly competitive global market. It increases the level of demand from an early age, with greater emphasis on arithmetic, including learning times tables to 12 x 12 by age 9 and removing calculators from key stage 2 tests in mathematics, and on phonics, grammar and vocabulary development in English. GCSEs in English language and mathematics are also being reformed to be more challenging and give stronger guarantees of literacy and numeracy, with the mathematics GCSE in particular covering more than the current GCSE.</p><p> </p><p>We are confident that our reform to the national curriculum will give teachers greater flexibility and freedom, which will help to raise standards and expectations for all pupils. It has been significantly slimmed down and will free-up teachers to use their professional judgement to provide support that best meets the needs of their pupils.</p><p> </p><p>We have invested in and reformed initial teacher training (ITT) to focus on attracting the very best graduates with the right qualities for teaching into the profession through making more scholarships available; using bursaries to attract more of the most talented graduates in key subjects such as maths and physics and supporting the expansion of the highly-successful Teach First programme. Teach First is now the largest graduate recruiter in any sector in the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>In 2013/14, we recruited 96% of the overall number of trainees we set out to recruit and the proportion with first-class or 2:1 degrees has risen 3 percentage points (74%) – a record compared to last year (71%). We have raised the bar for entry into ITT by making skills tests tougher, limiting candidates to two re-sits and making passing the tests in literacy and numeracy a requirement before entering, rather than exiting, ITT.</p><p> </p><p>Sir Andrew Carter has been appointed to lead an independent review about the effectiveness of ITT. As part of this, the review will look at ITT courses for both primary and secondary teaching to consider how well trainees are equipped to become outstanding teachers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 19/06/2014 16:27:54 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

61666

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Primary Education: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the current starting age for children entering primary education on the wellbeing and attainment of those born in summer months.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	200501
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education has not made an assessment of the effect of the current starting age for children entering primary education on the wellbeing and attainment of those born in the summer months.</p><p>However, research[1] carried out by the Department has demonstrated that the age at which tests are taken is the dominant reason for month of birth gaps in educational attainment, and not the age at which children start school; it is simply the fact of being younger when tested that accounts for most of the differences observed. The research reported no evidence of a causal relationship between school entry age and attainment.</p><p>Parents of summer born children who think their child is not ready to start school can request that their child is admitted outside of their normal age group and be admitted to reception year in the September following their fifth birthday. The school's admission authority is responsible for making the decision which must be based on the individual circumstance of each case.</p><p>[1]<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/182664/DFE-RR017.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/182664/DFE-RR017.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 18/06/2014 16:32:29 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman