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1467858

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Closures
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools closed in England in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020 and (d) 2021.
	tabling member constituency	North Shropshire
	tabling member printed	Helen Morgan
	uin	13297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2022 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td><p>Calendar Year</p></td><td><p>Number of schools closed</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>30</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>24</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>26</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This data has been taken from Get Information about Schools, the department’s register of schools[1]. The data shows all types of mainstream local authority-maintained schools, academies, and free schools. The data excludes closures of schools where they become an academy as a result of intervention following an inadequate Ofsted judgement or acquire a new unique reference number on transfer between trusts.</p><p> </p><p>There are a variety of reasons for closing a school. These include where there are surplus places elsewhere in the local area, where provision has been rationalised, for example where an infant and a junior school have been amalgamated to form a primary school, or if a school is no longer financially viable.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the numbers of schools that have opened between 2018 and 2021.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Calendar Year</p></td><td><p>Number of schools opened</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>92</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019</p></td><td><p>58</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>34</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>24</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong><br> </strong></p><p>[1] Responsibility for updating GIAS is shared between the department, schools, and local authorities and therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 14/06/2022 15:55:45 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4934 label Biography information for Helen Morgan

1402417

	registered interest
	date	12/01/2022
	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, whether his Department has issued new guidance to schools on (a) coding and (b) recording a child's absence from school subsequent to a positive test for covid-19 since 1 December 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Houghton and Sunderland South
	tabling member printed	Bridget Phillipson
	uin	102605
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2022 answer text <p>‘Addendum: recording absence relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) during the 2021 to 2022 academic year’ was last updated on 6 January 2022 to reflect the changes on when a PCR test is needed and how this is recorded. The guidance is available to view here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-attendance/addendum-recording-attendance-in-relation-to-coronavirus-covid-19-during-the-2021-to-2022-academic-year" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-attendance/addendum-recording-attendance-in-relation-to-coronavirus-covid-19-during-the-2021-to-2022-academic-year</a>.</p><p>We have advised schools throughout the COVID-19 outbreak to record pupils as Code I ‘illness’ where they have tested positive for COVID-19 because they have an infectious illness. This is in line with how schools would usually record absence because of infectious illness.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 17/01/2022 13:09:40 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson

1402718

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	National Tutoring Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of tutors engaged through the National Tutoring Programme are not fully qualified teachers.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	103665
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2022 answer text <p>​​This data is not held by the department.</p><p>We will consider whether to collect this data going forward.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 18/01/2022 17:05:13 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1402719

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	National Tutoring Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils have started tuition courses through the National Tutoring Partnership, by region.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	103666
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2022 answer text <p>​The National Tutoring Programme aims to deliver up to 2 million courses this year, and up to 90 million tuition hours by the 2024/25 academic year across the programme’s three pillars. Schools have the freedom to enrol the pupils they think could benefit most.</p><p>The programme is on course to deliver its objectives. Since September we have seen more than 300,000 courses started, almost the same number as the whole of last year. An estimated 230,000 courses have been started by pupils through the school-led tutoring pillar. An estimated 20,000 with academic mentors and an estimated 52,000 with tuition partners. A course consists of 15 tuition hours, meaning that pupils who need it most will be receiving millions of hours of high-quality support.</p><p>The department does not currently publish regional performance data. We will consider doing so going forward. We will continue to work closely with the delivery partner to ensure the tuition partner and academic mentor pillars fulfil their objectives by the end of the academic year and will publish further data for the spring and summer terms later this year.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 19/01/2022 17:47:17 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1404979

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Closures
	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 close full-time unregistered schools; and if he will give Ofsted greater powers to seize evidence, search premises, and close illegal operations in relation to unregistered schools.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham North
	tabling member printed	Alex Norris
	uin	108607
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2022 answer text <p>​It is a criminal offence under Section 96 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 to conduct an unregistered independent school. The department and Ofsted will investigate any institution where intelligence or evidence suggest that this offence is being committed. Section 97 of the act permits no-notice inspections of education providers believed to be operating as an unregistered independent school.</p><p>​Between 1 January 2016 and 31 August 2021, Ofsted have investigated 850 education providers. These investigations have led to 412 inspections which have resulted in the identification of 114 unregistered schools. Joint work between the department and Ofsted has led to 101 of these providers changing their provision to cease operating unlawfully. In addition, since 2016, 6 successful prosecutions have been brought against groups responsible for operating illegal education providers. <br> <br> The department has made public commitments to take forward measures to make it easier for Ofsted to investigate and gather evidence of breaches of section 96 of the Act and prosecute those responsible for running unregistered schools. These changes are intended to lead to the identification of greater numbers of unregistered schools. Such measures will be taken forward when a suitable legislative opportunity arises.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 27/01/2022 17:41:33 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4641 label Biography information for Alex Norris

1386644

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Ventilation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2021 to Question 86209 on Schools: Ventilation, for what reason only 1000 air cleaning units are being funded for poorly ventilated teaching spaces and staff rooms; and what assessment he has made of the ability of schools that do not qualify for that funding to afford such units.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	90514
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2021 answer text <p>​If used properly, air cleaning units can help reduce airborne contaminants in a poorly ventilated space while remedial work is undertaken to permanently improve ventilation. However, it is important to note that air cleaning units cannot improve ventilation, and they should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation or not to remediate poor ventilation in a space.</p><p>The department is providing additional, exceptional funding for air cleaning units for poorly ventilated spaces in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision schools and colleges, including SEND units in mainstream schools and colleges, where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible. These settings are being prioritised, given the higher than average number of vulnerable pupils attending them. The purchase of 1,000 air cleaning units reflects our assessment of need in the sector based on recent feedback from SEND and alternative provider schools and colleges.</p><p>Schools and colleges that are not eligible for a department-funded unit will have access to an online ‘marketplace’, which provides a route to purchasing air cleaning units of a suitable specification and competitive price. However, we expect that in most classrooms existing ventilation will be sufficient.</p><p>Maintaining adequate ventilation ultimately remains the responsibility of individual schools and colleges. It is for them to decide on the use of affected rooms in accordance with their risk assessment procedures and obligations under health and safety law.</p><p>Schools and colleges are expected to plan and prioritise any necessary remedial works within existing budgets. For more substantial capital works, schools, colleges and those responsible for buildings have access to funding to improve the condition of buildings through different routes depending on their size and type.</p><p>The case for additional support for schools and colleges to maintain good ventilation will be kept under review as the programme continues, and as settings use the monitors to further assess their ventilation needs.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker grouped question UIN 90515 90516 question first answered 14/12/2021 14:35:52 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1386645

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Ventilation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2021 to Question 86209 on Schools: Ventilation, what estimate his Department has made of the total number of air cleaning units needed for poorly ventilated teaching spaces and staff rooms in all state educational settings in England.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	90515
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2021 answer text <p>​If used properly, air cleaning units can help reduce airborne contaminants in a poorly ventilated space while remedial work is undertaken to permanently improve ventilation. However, it is important to note that air cleaning units cannot improve ventilation, and they should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation or not to remediate poor ventilation in a space.</p><p>The department is providing additional, exceptional funding for air cleaning units for poorly ventilated spaces in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision schools and colleges, including SEND units in mainstream schools and colleges, where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible. These settings are being prioritised, given the higher than average number of vulnerable pupils attending them. The purchase of 1,000 air cleaning units reflects our assessment of need in the sector based on recent feedback from SEND and alternative provider schools and colleges.</p><p>Schools and colleges that are not eligible for a department-funded unit will have access to an online ‘marketplace’, which provides a route to purchasing air cleaning units of a suitable specification and competitive price. However, we expect that in most classrooms existing ventilation will be sufficient.</p><p>Maintaining adequate ventilation ultimately remains the responsibility of individual schools and colleges. It is for them to decide on the use of affected rooms in accordance with their risk assessment procedures and obligations under health and safety law.</p><p>Schools and colleges are expected to plan and prioritise any necessary remedial works within existing budgets. For more substantial capital works, schools, colleges and those responsible for buildings have access to funding to improve the condition of buildings through different routes depending on their size and type.</p><p>The case for additional support for schools and colleges to maintain good ventilation will be kept under review as the programme continues, and as settings use the monitors to further assess their ventilation needs.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker grouped question UIN 90514 90516 question first answered 14/12/2021 14:35:52 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1386650

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Ventilation
	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 potential merits of providing air filtration devices to schools to reduce the risk of airborne transmission of covid-19.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
	tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
	uin	90516
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2021 answer text <p>​If used properly, air cleaning units can help reduce airborne contaminants in a poorly ventilated space while remedial work is undertaken to permanently improve ventilation. However, it is important to note that air cleaning units cannot improve ventilation, and they should never be used as a reason to reduce ventilation or not to remediate poor ventilation in a space.</p><p>The department is providing additional, exceptional funding for air cleaning units for poorly ventilated spaces in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision schools and colleges, including SEND units in mainstream schools and colleges, where quick fixes to improve ventilation are not possible. These settings are being prioritised, given the higher than average number of vulnerable pupils attending them. The purchase of 1,000 air cleaning units reflects our assessment of need in the sector based on recent feedback from SEND and alternative provider schools and colleges.</p><p>Schools and colleges that are not eligible for a department-funded unit will have access to an online ‘marketplace’, which provides a route to purchasing air cleaning units of a suitable specification and competitive price. However, we expect that in most classrooms existing ventilation will be sufficient.</p><p>Maintaining adequate ventilation ultimately remains the responsibility of individual schools and colleges. It is for them to decide on the use of affected rooms in accordance with their risk assessment procedures and obligations under health and safety law.</p><p>Schools and colleges are expected to plan and prioritise any necessary remedial works within existing budgets. For more substantial capital works, schools, colleges and those responsible for buildings have access to funding to improve the condition of buildings through different routes depending on their size and type.</p><p>The case for additional support for schools and colleges to maintain good ventilation will be kept under review as the programme continues, and as settings use the monitors to further assess their ventilation needs.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker grouped question UIN 90514 90515 question first answered 14/12/2021 14:35:52 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1483425

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	National Curriculum Tests
	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 help ensure that SATs do not have a negative impact on the emotional wellbeing of primary school students.
	tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
	tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
	uin	25963
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2022 answer text <p>​Assessment is a crucial part of a child’s schooling and fundamental in a high-performing education system. At primary school, statutory assessments are an essential part of ensuring that all pupils master the basics of reading, writing and maths to prepare them for secondary school. Assessment data also enables parents, schools and the department to understand the impact of lost time in education and recovery initiatives.</p><p>Schools should encourage pupils to work hard and achieve well, but the department does not recommend that they devote excessive preparation time to assessments, and certainly not at the expense of pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. We trust schools to administer assessments in the appropriate way.</p><p>Research conducted by UCL Institute of Education, published in 2021, found that there was ‘little evidence to changes in [pupil] wellbeing around the time of key stage 2 tests, or that children in England become happier - either in general or about school - once these tests are over’.</p><p>Nevertheless, the department knows that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people and will have an impact in the longer-term. Mental health and wellbeing are a priority for the government, and we remain committed to promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing support in schools and colleges. In May 2021, the department announced an investment of over £17 million of mental health funding to improve mental health and wellbeing support in schools and colleges. This includes £9.5 million dedicated to training senior mental health leads in over 8,000 schools and colleges, with an additional £3 million announced this year to extend this training to even more schools and colleges. The training will equip leads with the skills and knowledge to develop a culture and ethos that promotes positive mental health wellbeing, as well as how to make the best use of local resources to support children and young people experiencing issues such as anxiety.</p><p>The department has also recently brought together all its sources of advice for schools and colleges into a single site on GOV.UK, which includes signposting to external sources of mental health and wellbeing support for teachers, school staff and school leaders. The site is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support-in-schools-and-colleges#mental-health-and-wellbeing-resources" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support-in-schools-and-colleges#mental-health-and-wellbeing-resources</a>. ​</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 05/07/2022 15:45:54 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1123213

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2019
	answering body	Department for Exiting the European Union
	answering dept id	203
	answering dept short name	Exiting the European Union
	answering dept sort name	Exiting the European Union
	hansard heading	Brexit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether it remains Government policy for the UK to leave the (a) Single Market and (b) Customs Union.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	247652
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>Yes.</p><p>We are not seeking membership of the Single Market, or Customs Union, after we leave the EU, but a bold and ambitious economic partnership. The Political Declaration sets out a clear vision for the UK’s future relationship with the EU.</p><p>The negotiated Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration outline the EU and UK's shared commitment to a free trade area for goods with no tariffs, quotas or rules of origin requirements. The Prime Minister has been clear that we will have an independent trade policy.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 07/05/2019 15:03:55 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell