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1125639

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Literacy: Essex
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to raise levels of literacy in Essex.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	252537
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to continuing to raise literacy standards, ensuring all children can read fluently and with understanding. Building on the success of our phonics partnerships and phonics roadshows programmes, in 2018 the Department launched a £26.3 million English Hubs Programme. The Department has appointed 34 primary schools across England as English Hubs. Hub schools are taking a leading role in improving the teaching of early reading through systematic synthetic phonics, early language development, and reading for pleasure.</p><p>There is a substantial body of evidence that shows that systematic phonics is the most effective method for teaching early reading. Reflecting this, the Department introduced the light touch phonics screening check for year 1 pupils in 2012. Phonics performance is improving: in 2018, there were 163,000 more six-year-olds on track to become fluent readers compared to 2012. This represented 82% of pupils meeting the expected standard in the phonics screening check, compared to just 58% when the check was introduced in 2012.</p><p>The Department have appointed Myland Community Primary school as an English Hub in Colchester, and Elmhurst Primary School in Newham. Both of these hubs will work with schools in Essex to improve the teaching of early reading.</p><p> </p><p>In 2016, new tests and frameworks for teacher assessment were brought in at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, following the introduction of a new, more challenging National Curriculum that set higher expected standards for reading, writing and mathematics. These changes mean that the expected standard from 2016 is higher and not comparable with the expected levels used in previous years' statistics. It is not possible to make direct comparisons between the results before and after the changes in 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The number and percentage of state-funded pupils, at the end of Key Stage 1, 2 and 4, who did not achieve the expected level of literacy[1] in Witham, Essex and England are in the attached tables. Figures relate to academic years 2013/14 to 2017/18. The Department does not produce statistics for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, or the UK as a whole, and therefore these figures relate to England only.</p><p> </p><p>[1] There is not a definitive definition of ‘expected level of literacy’ for each key stage. Figures have been provided for achievement in English, or English subjects, in the headline or additional measures that were used for that key stage, in each academic year.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 252538 question first answered 16/05/2019 14:43:04 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb attachment 1 file name 252537_252538_Literacy_Attainment_KS1_KS2_KS4.xls title 252537_252538_Tables
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1125640

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Literacy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils at the end of (a) Key Stage 1, (b) Key Stage 2 and (c) Key Stage 4 did not meet the expected level of literacy in (i) Witham constituency, (ii) Essex, and (iii) the UK in the last five years for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	252538
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to continuing to raise literacy standards, ensuring all children can read fluently and with understanding. Building on the success of our phonics partnerships and phonics roadshows programmes, in 2018 the Department launched a £26.3 million English Hubs Programme. The Department has appointed 34 primary schools across England as English Hubs. Hub schools are taking a leading role in improving the teaching of early reading through systematic synthetic phonics, early language development, and reading for pleasure.</p><p>There is a substantial body of evidence that shows that systematic phonics is the most effective method for teaching early reading. Reflecting this, the Department introduced the light touch phonics screening check for year 1 pupils in 2012. Phonics performance is improving: in 2018, there were 163,000 more six-year-olds on track to become fluent readers compared to 2012. This represented 82% of pupils meeting the expected standard in the phonics screening check, compared to just 58% when the check was introduced in 2012.</p><p>The Department have appointed Myland Community Primary school as an English Hub in Colchester, and Elmhurst Primary School in Newham. Both of these hubs will work with schools in Essex to improve the teaching of early reading.</p><p> </p><p>In 2016, new tests and frameworks for teacher assessment were brought in at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, following the introduction of a new, more challenging National Curriculum that set higher expected standards for reading, writing and mathematics. These changes mean that the expected standard from 2016 is higher and not comparable with the expected levels used in previous years' statistics. It is not possible to make direct comparisons between the results before and after the changes in 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The number and percentage of state-funded pupils, at the end of Key Stage 1, 2 and 4, who did not achieve the expected level of literacy[1] in Witham, Essex and England are in the attached tables. Figures relate to academic years 2013/14 to 2017/18. The Department does not produce statistics for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, or the UK as a whole, and therefore these figures relate to England only.</p><p> </p><p>[1] There is not a definitive definition of ‘expected level of literacy’ for each key stage. Figures have been provided for achievement in English, or English subjects, in the headline or additional measures that were used for that key stage, in each academic year.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 252537 question first answered 16/05/2019 14:43:04 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb attachment 1 file name 252537_252538_Literacy_Attainment_KS1_KS2_KS4.xls title 252537_252538_Tables
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1125642

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Absenteeism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the number of unauthorised school absences in (a) Witham constituency, (b) Essex and c) the UK in the last three years for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	252540
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>It is a priority to reduce overall school absence as part of the Government’s ambition to create a world-class education system.</p><p>Data on the number of unauthorised absences are published in the termly “Pupil absence in schools in England” statistical releases, and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-pupil-absence" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-pupil-absence</a>.</p><p>Information for each school, local authority and England is provided in the underlying data. Information by local authority and England is also provided in the “National and local authority” tables.</p><p>The Department has already taken a number of steps to reduce the number of unauthorised absence and tackle persistent absence. In 2013, the Government amended legislation to make it clear that leave of absence could be authorised by maintained schools only in exceptional circumstances. It is up to individual schools to decide what constitutes exceptional circumstances.</p><p>Overall school attendance is improving, and absence rates have followed a general downward trend since 2006-7. The Department recognises that persistent absence is hard to tackle. Children may be persistently absent from school for a number of reasons including long term sickness.</p><p>To enable schools to act earlier in dealing with patterns of poor attendance, the Department has tightened up the definition of persistent absence in national statistics and equipped schools and local authorities with a range of sanctions they can use to tackle poor attendance. This includes penalty notices, parenting orders, fast track programmes, parenting contracts, and ultimately prosecution.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 252541 question first answered 15/05/2019 13:21:24 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1125643

registered interest
date	09/05/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Absenteeism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of (a) unauthorised and (b) persistent absences of students from school.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	252541
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>It is a priority to reduce overall school absence as part of the Government’s ambition to create a world-class education system.</p><p>Data on the number of unauthorised absences are published in the termly “Pupil absence in schools in England” statistical releases, and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-pupil-absence" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-pupil-absence</a>.</p><p>Information for each school, local authority and England is provided in the underlying data. Information by local authority and England is also provided in the “National and local authority” tables.</p><p>The Department has already taken a number of steps to reduce the number of unauthorised absence and tackle persistent absence. In 2013, the Government amended legislation to make it clear that leave of absence could be authorised by maintained schools only in exceptional circumstances. It is up to individual schools to decide what constitutes exceptional circumstances.</p><p>Overall school attendance is improving, and absence rates have followed a general downward trend since 2006-7. The Department recognises that persistent absence is hard to tackle. Children may be persistently absent from school for a number of reasons including long term sickness.</p><p>To enable schools to act earlier in dealing with patterns of poor attendance, the Department has tightened up the definition of persistent absence in national statistics and equipped schools and local authorities with a range of sanctions they can use to tackle poor attendance. This includes penalty notices, parenting orders, fast track programmes, parenting contracts, and ultimately prosecution.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 252540 question first answered 15/05/2019 13:21:24 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1064452

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Special Educational Needs: Essex
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will increase capital funding to expand provision at special schools in Essex.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	223977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2019 answer text <p>During 2018, the Department increased investment in the Special Provision Capital Fund by £150 million, taking the total investment from £215 million to £365 million across 2018-2021. This will support local authorities to create further school places and improve facilities for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. The investment is not ring-fenced and therefore local authorities can use it as they see fit in their local area. Essex has been allocated £9.8 million from our £365 million investment, the fourth largest allocation in the country. More information on this fund can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-provision-capital-funding-for-pupils-with-ehc-plans" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-provision-capital-funding-for-pupils-with-ehc-plans</a>.</p><p>The Department provides basic need funding which is based on local authorities’ own data on school capacity and pupil forecasts. Essex received £205.9 million to provide new school places from 2011-2018, and has been allocated a further £57 million from 2018-2021. This funding is also not ring-fenced, allowing local authorities greater flexibility to make decisions that are best for their local area. More information on this fund can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-need-allocations" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-need-allocations</a>.</p><p>The Department is also investing in special provision in Essex via the free schools programme. There are currently 3 special free schools in pre-opening in Essex; The Hawthorns and Beckmead schools will be located in Chelmsford and Chatten special school which will be located in Witham. In addition, Essex County Council have also bid to establish a further special free school in the current alternative provision and special free school round. The successful local authority areas will be announced shortly.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 01/03/2019 11:23:39 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

1064458

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Special Educational Needs: Essex
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the change in the the number of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) permanently excluded from school in Essex in the last three years; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of pupils with SEND being permanently excluded.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	223983
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2019 answer text <p>The number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) or disability permanently excluded from school is published by local authority within the local authority characteristics underlying data file at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/permanent-and-fixed-period-exclusions-in-england-2016-to-2017" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/permanent-and-fixed-period-exclusions-in-england-2016-to-2017</a>.</p><p>The Department’s statutory guidance on exclusions is clear that schools should take appropriate steps to address the underlying causes of poor behaviour, which could include pupils’ SEN or disability. This should include an assessment of whether appropriate provision is in place to support any SEN or disability that a pupil may have to avoid exclusion, and that schools should consider the use of a multi-agency assessment. The full guidance can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion</a>.</p><p>In March 2018, the Government launched an externally led review of exclusions practice, led by Edward Timpson CBE. The review is exploring how head teachers use exclusion, and why pupils with particular characteristics such as those with special educational needs are more likely to be excluded from school. It is also considering the differences in exclusion rates across primary and secondary schools in England.</p><p>​The review has gathered substantial evidence, including over 900 submissions to the call for evidence. Edward Timpson has also chaired a series of roundtables and the review has met with over 100 organisations and individuals, including schools, local authorities, parents and children. The review will report in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 01/03/2019 11:58:53 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

984462

registered interest
date	09/10/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Health Education: Schools
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will add stem cell donation to the statutory guidance relating to Health Education for secondary school pupils.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	177301
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2018 answer text <p>The national curriculum includes substantial content which could be used by teachers as an opportunity to inform pupils about organ, stem cell and blood donation. Pupils are taught about the function of the heart, blood vessels and blood as part of Key Stage 2 science, and about stem cells as part of the Key Stage 4 science. The national curriculum is compulsory in state maintained schools, and is often used as a benchmark by academies.</p><p>In addition, the Government is proposing to introduce compulsory Health Education, alongside Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education, and is currently consulting on draft regulations and draft statutory guidance on the subjects. Under the topic of physical health and fitness, the draft guidance sets out that pupils should know the facts about wider issues such as organ and blood donation.</p><p>The consultation on the guidance closes on 7 November.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 17/10/2018 15:41:18 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

931084

registered interest
date	25/06/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to amend the School Admissions Code to ensure that summer born children can (a) be admitted to reception at the age of five if on request of their parents and (b) remain with that cohort as they progress through (i) primary and (ii) secondary school.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	157136
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2018 answer text <p>The Department is committed to amending the School Admissions Code so that summer born children can be admitted to a reception class at the age of five when their parents believe it to be in their best interests, and can remain with the cohort with which they are admitted as they progress through their education.</p><p>The Department is giving careful consideration to how changes might be made in a way that avoids unintended consequences elsewhere in the system. Any changes to the Admissions Code will require a full statutory process, including consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. The Department will consider the appropriate time for consulting on these changes in the context of competing pressures on the parliamentary timetable.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 03/07/2018 15:04:48 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

924029

registered interest
date	14/06/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Stem Cells: Donors
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will integrate information on the need for stem cell donation among (a) BAME communities and (b) others into the formal curriculum.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	153814
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2018 answer text <p>Pupils are taught about stem cells as part of the new Key Stage 4 science curriculum, GCSE combined science and GCSE biology. The national curriculum is compulsory in maintained schools and can be used as a benchmark by academies and free schools. The new national curriculum focuses on the essential knowledge in each subject, which allows teachers to take greater control over the wider curriculum in schools. Content includes the function of stem cells and the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of stem cells in medicine. Teachers are free to use this as an opportunity to discuss stem cell donation with pupils.</p><p>In April 2018, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced that the Government would make no further changes to the national curriculum and to existing GCSEs for the rest of this Parliament. This announcement was made to promote stability for schools and teachers.</p><p>In order to continue providing lifesaving support for those who need stem cell transplants and find the best possible matches, the Department for Health and Social Care supports Anthony Nolan and NHS Blood and Transplant to continue to grow both their cord blood banks and their bone marrow donor registers. In particular, they aim to increase the numbers of BAME donors and cord blood units on the register that are available for patients from BAME backgrounds that are in need of a stem cell transplant.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 19/06/2018 15:20:33 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel

862313

registered interest
date	14/03/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Reading: Witham
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of pupils in Witham constituency (a) attained and (b) exceeded the minimum standard for reading at (i) key stage 1 and (ii) key stage 2 in each of the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	Witham
tabling member printed	Priti Patel
uin	132732
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Department has published some statistics for Key Stage 2 attainment for individual parliamentary constituencies since 2011/2[1]. Please be aware that the headline measures used across the years have changed and that comparison between years is not advised.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not publish constituency level attainment data for Key Stage 1.</p><p> </p><p>[1] For 2011/12 – 2013/14 the information is located here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-curriculum-assessments-at-key-stage-2-2014-revised" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-curriculum-assessments-at-key-stage-2-2014-revised</a> - open the ‘parliamentary constituency tables’, you can change year in the top right. This table provides the percentage achieving level 4 or above in each subject.</p><p>For 2014/15, the information is located here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-curriculum-assessments-at-key-stage-2-2015-revised" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-curriculum-assessments-at-key-stage-2-2015-revised</a> - open the ‘additional tables’ and then tab ‘Table B3’. This table provides the percentage achieving level 4 or above in each subject.</p><p>For 2015/16, the information is located here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-curriculum-assessments-key-stage-2-2016-revised" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-curriculum-assessments-key-stage-2-2016-revised</a> - open the ‘additional tables’ and then tab ‘Table A5’. This table provides the percentage achieving the epected standard in each subject.</p><p>For 2016/17 the information is located here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-curriculum-assessments-key-stage-2-2017-revised" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-curriculum-assessments-key-stage-2-2017-revised</a> - open the ‘additional tables’ and then tab ‘Table A5’, this table provides the progress score of pupils in each subject, in line with the updated headline measures for key stage 2 attainment.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 04/04/2018 15:54:10 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4066 label Biography information for Priti Patel