Live Education Questions

:00:00. > :00:15.Good afternoon and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the

:00:16. > :00:19.Commons. At around 3:30pm there will be a prime ministerial statement,

:00:20. > :00:26.with Theresa May talking about last week's European Council summit.

:00:27. > :00:30.After that, Liz Truss will be talking about the disturbances at

:00:31. > :00:36.Her Majesty's prison in Birmingham for a third statement on Yemen. The

:00:37. > :00:37.main business is a debate on Brexit. Join me for the highlights of both

:00:38. > :00:55.Houses of Parliament at 11pm. We are committed to ensuring that we

:00:56. > :01:02.childcare that families need. We are childcare that families need. We are

:01:03. > :01:10.investing record funding of ?1 billion per year, have announced a

:01:11. > :01:21.fire early funding system and are providing nearly 4000 places one

:01:22. > :01:23.year early. Last week I visited a very well-respected local nursery.

:01:24. > :01:29.They are concerned about the level They are concerned about the level

:01:30. > :01:32.of funding they will receive. Can she give us some reassurance and

:01:33. > :01:38.would she like to visit the school because they would be delighted to

:01:39. > :01:45.see her? I thank my honourable friend for that. I would be more

:01:46. > :01:54.than happy to visit. He is right to highlight the importance of this and

:01:55. > :02:02.that is why we've committed to providing these until the end of the

:02:03. > :02:09.Parliament. Isn't it the case that the promise is being funded by

:02:10. > :02:13.nurses and can the Secretary of nurses and can the Secretary of

:02:14. > :02:19.State tell us what analysis she has undertaken of the damage that will

:02:20. > :02:25.be done by the cuts she is making? It is a rather churlish comment and

:02:26. > :02:31.we are investing more money in this policy than any government ever. ?6

:02:32. > :02:39.billion. He needs to be more appreciative, I think. Working

:02:40. > :02:43.parents in my constituency very much welcome the 30 hours of free

:02:44. > :02:47.childcare. Can the Minister set out for them, particularly those with

:02:48. > :02:52.disabled children, how they will disabled children, how they will

:02:53. > :02:54.make sure there is sufficient funding available to give children

:02:55. > :03:02.the best start in life through that scheme. She's absolutely right. I

:03:03. > :03:07.was in a nursery in new and they were already seeing a massive

:03:08. > :03:13.difference this is making to working families and it is with regard to

:03:14. > :03:19.children with special educational needs, there is a fund which will go

:03:20. > :03:26.towards them. I hope the Minister will agree that the pupil premium

:03:27. > :03:34.provides vital support to some of our most disadvantaged children and

:03:35. > :03:39.we want them to know that many will not be able to care for the most

:03:40. > :03:43.vulnerable children when the 30 hours is introduced so will the

:03:44. > :03:47.Minister guarantee that all of the money will go to our most vulnerable

:03:48. > :03:55.children and this vital resource will not be cut this Parliament? It

:03:56. > :04:06.will continue and will continue to go to the most vulnerable children.

:04:07. > :04:11.We are committed to making sure as many pupils as possible have a place

:04:12. > :04:16.at school. The latest report shows that standards have risen compared

:04:17. > :04:24.to 2010, when 1.8 million more pupils are taught in good or

:04:25. > :04:32.outstanding skills, proposals are in place in the consultation. I am very

:04:33. > :04:39.encouraged by the reply from the Minister. One of the issues raised

:04:40. > :04:48.by them is securing school places for siblings. Will my right

:04:49. > :04:52.honourable friend look at this as part of her plans? Any changes in

:04:53. > :04:57.relation to the overall way that the code operates will be scrutinised by

:04:58. > :05:01.this house, she will be aware that admissions for authorities are

:05:02. > :05:03.responsible for setting their own admissions arrangements. But

:05:04. > :05:07.actually it allows them to prioritise siblings and some

:05:08. > :05:17.authorities choose to do that already. Headteachers in my

:05:18. > :05:23.constituency say they are stymied by changing expectations from

:05:24. > :05:27.government. Will the Secretary of State reassure her teachers in my

:05:28. > :05:32.constituency that expectations will not keep changing without good

:05:33. > :05:37.reason? I had a chance to visit one of the schools last week which was a

:05:38. > :05:42.fantastic opportunity, they were working with Bristol University, and

:05:43. > :05:45.in relation to the continued reforms, we want to make sure we see

:05:46. > :05:49.improvements in classrooms and she will no doubt welcome the fact that

:05:50. > :05:52.we launched the strategic school improvement fund which is about

:05:53. > :06:01.making sure we can get the investment in schools that need to

:06:02. > :06:06.improve quickly and effectively. Skills include technical provision

:06:07. > :06:10.as a must, so does the Secretary of State agree that university

:06:11. > :06:16.technical colleges play an important role in this and these should be

:06:17. > :06:24.good and outstanding? We expect them to deliver high standards. I had the

:06:25. > :06:28.chance to go to Didcot UTC and it was providing a fantastic education,

:06:29. > :06:31.are very different one but one that worked for them in their interest.

:06:32. > :06:39.It was getting very good results because of that. Thank you, Mr

:06:40. > :06:42.Speaker. It is my understanding that in the last two years there were

:06:43. > :06:51.over 60 schools which have been rated inadequate weir and an Academy

:06:52. > :06:57.order has been issued and a sponsor yet to be identified. How does that

:06:58. > :07:00.uncertainty help improve standards in those schools? We are committed

:07:01. > :07:03.to making sure that when we see schools that are not achieving the

:07:04. > :07:07.results that they need to for those children that we have a strong

:07:08. > :07:10.approach that is steadily improving the schools and working with them to

:07:11. > :07:16.approve, but where they cannot improve we want to make sure that

:07:17. > :07:20.changes take place in terms of leadership and school sponsorship,

:07:21. > :07:30.that means schools have got the flexibility and freedom to get

:07:31. > :07:43.better. Yes. Thank you, Mr Speaker. As a former Acton residents, I'm

:07:44. > :07:50.sure they will share concerns... They have a full role of students, a

:07:51. > :07:53.secure site but no physical building. Can she do everything she

:07:54. > :08:00.can to pressure the funding authority to find the shortfall that

:08:01. > :08:07.Balfour Beatty want, because East Acton is the most deprived wards...

:08:08. > :08:12.She's made her point with great force and eloquence but it does not

:08:13. > :08:20.need to be made at any further point. Acton is a place I very much

:08:21. > :08:24.enjoy living in and it is important we see school standards raised in

:08:25. > :08:28.Acton. I will look very carefully at the particular issues she has raised

:08:29. > :08:34.and perhaps write to her to find out what she can advise we do to speed

:08:35. > :08:37.things up. There is a skill in my constituency, two of my children

:08:38. > :08:43.attended, so do 1000 of its children, and it has been placed in

:08:44. > :08:47.special measures and will become an Academy, which I support, but the

:08:48. > :08:53.choice of Academy has been made and subsequently retracted pending

:08:54. > :09:00.surveys on the school. The process is flawed. Would the secretary take

:09:01. > :09:06.a look at this with urgency? I'm aware of this matter because he has

:09:07. > :09:09.done his rule as a fantastic local MP in already raising it with me and

:09:10. > :09:13.it is something we are looking at within the Department to see whether

:09:14. > :09:17.we can make sure that the barriers preventing their school from getting

:09:18. > :09:19.a great sponsor that can help improve it, not just for his own

:09:20. > :09:29.children but all the children there, can be quickly removed.

:09:30. > :09:33.Multi-Academy trusts enable the sharing of staff and expertise that

:09:34. > :09:42.can help foster a truly excellent special education provision and

:09:43. > :09:43.special schools can be helpful in supporting children with special

:09:44. > :09:49.education needs as well as provision education needs as well as provision

:09:50. > :09:52.alongside mainstream provision. Some examples can be found in the good

:09:53. > :10:01.practice guidance published on the 9th of December. I was going to ask

:10:02. > :10:06.him to issue further guidance when I tabled the question in December. I

:10:07. > :10:09.don't think it has been issued so I'm grateful for that. I would

:10:10. > :10:16.encourage him to look at special needs schools operating as special

:10:17. > :10:22.needs schools because there is a difference between thousands of

:10:23. > :10:26.pupils. I think the honourable gentleman is encouraged by the power

:10:27. > :10:33.of his own question tabling. I expect nothing less from the

:10:34. > :10:41.honourable gentleman. He raises an important issue. We continue to

:10:42. > :10:46.provide guidance in this area. I would encourage any newly forming

:10:47. > :11:08.organisation to get in touch. You've moved to number four. Very

:11:09. > :11:12.well. I thank the Minister for meeting to discuss the contents of

:11:13. > :11:18.my ten minute rule Bill to do with special needs. He mentioned the

:11:19. > :11:23.arrangements were not ideal and needed some adjustment and mentioned

:11:24. > :11:28.a consultation. Could he give us any more information on that? I welcome

:11:29. > :11:37.a lot of sympathy for the cause he a lot of sympathy for the cause he

:11:38. > :11:39.makes within it. I can commit to a consultation early in the New Year

:11:40. > :11:48.and I know that he will want to contribute along with others

:11:49. > :11:51.interested in this issue. Great teachers are critical to improving

:11:52. > :11:55.educational outcomes. Teaching is a profession and we are supporting the

:11:56. > :12:00.development of teachers including through the new leadership

:12:01. > :12:04.innovation fund and the new chartered College of teaching and

:12:05. > :12:10.also through investment in improving curriculum expertise and in

:12:11. > :12:17.particular in maths which I saw for myself on a recent visit to China.

:12:18. > :12:22.In the paper that was produced in In the paper that was produced in

:12:23. > :12:26.March in 2016, there was a good proposal in that paper for a

:12:27. > :12:31.national teacher vacancy website to national teacher vacancy website to

:12:32. > :12:32.ensure that the cost of recruitment was kept down. What progress is

:12:33. > :12:41.being made? She set out a commitment we made in

:12:42. > :12:46.the March White Paper. It is going to offer a website with a free route

:12:47. > :12:50.for schools to advertise teacher vacancies, but also provide teachers

:12:51. > :12:54.with easier access to information about job opportunities. We have

:12:55. > :12:57.worked closely with schools and teachers on testing out different

:12:58. > :13:04.approaches for how to deliver that website so we can make sure it adds

:13:05. > :13:07.maximum value to all schools. Whenever I meet young people in my

:13:08. > :13:11.constituency, they tell me that the thing that could most affect their

:13:12. > :13:18.educational outcomes is a curriculum for life and compulsory PSAT in all

:13:19. > :13:24.schools. The curriculum was last updated before Facebook was even

:13:25. > :13:28.invented. Teachers go unsupported and untrained. If yesterday's

:13:29. > :13:31.briefings to the papers are to be believed, the government is

:13:32. > :13:40.considering bringing in compulsory PSHE. Is this true, and if so, when

:13:41. > :13:43.will it happen? It is urgent. I was clear in my first education select

:13:44. > :13:47.committee appearance but I felt this was an area we needed to look at,

:13:48. > :13:51.which is what we are doing. It is not just a question of updating the

:13:52. > :13:55.guidance, it is also about the schools that it is taught in. It is

:13:56. > :14:00.also about the quality of the teaching that happens as well. As

:14:01. > :14:05.someone who did pure maths and applied maths as well as physics and

:14:06. > :14:11.English at A-level, I am very keen mathematics teaching. I was

:14:12. > :14:14.wondering, what was the Secretary of State's assessment of the recent

:14:15. > :14:24.mathematics teacher exchange between the United Kingdom and China? I

:14:25. > :14:29.think it has worked fantastically well so far. We have seen 131

:14:30. > :14:33.teachers from England visiting Shanghai and 127 teachers from

:14:34. > :14:37.Shanghai visiting English schools. Through that exchange, our teachers

:14:38. > :14:41.have observed Shanghai teaching methods. And in the 48 schools that

:14:42. > :14:46.have taken part in the study, most teachers have implemented changes

:14:47. > :14:49.which have led to increased enthusiasm for mathematics,

:14:50. > :14:51.hopefully as strong as his was at school, deeper engagement and

:14:52. > :14:58.increased confidence, but critically, higher attainment. One

:14:59. > :15:01.of the best ways to support teachers in improving educational outcomes,

:15:02. > :15:05.particularly for children with special needs, is through the pupil

:15:06. > :15:08.premium. Will she therefore explain to the House why the level of the

:15:09. > :15:15.pupil premium has been frozen at current levels through this

:15:16. > :15:18.Parliament? The pupil premium was of course something that the previous

:15:19. > :15:22.coalition government introduced and is continuing to be supported

:15:23. > :15:26.throughout this Parliament to make sure funding goes to those children

:15:27. > :15:31.who need it most. Last week, I announced the national funding

:15:32. > :15:36.formula, which also prioritises resources going towards children

:15:37. > :15:39.with a distant advantage. The Secretary of State will know how

:15:40. > :15:46.traumatic it is for students and teachers in getting children through

:15:47. > :15:51.GCSE maths and English resits, which can often blight their post-GCSE

:15:52. > :15:54.students. Can we have a curriculum which is vocationally based for

:15:55. > :15:57.numeracy and literacy, which will give people the skills they need for

:15:58. > :16:01.work without having to go through this traumatic and often wasteful

:16:02. > :16:05.experience? It is important that all children leaving our education

:16:06. > :16:12.system leave with something to show for their names, particularly on

:16:13. > :16:17.maths and English. That is why we brought in the GCSE resits policy.

:16:18. > :16:20.For students who achieved a D and were close to being able to get to

:16:21. > :16:25.the better standard, they should have another go at doing that.

:16:26. > :16:27.However, the functional skills qualifications have been

:16:28. > :16:31.well-received by employers and we want to look at how they can also

:16:32. > :16:39.play a role in enabling all young people to show their

:16:40. > :16:44.accomplishments. Grammar schools are the Prime Minister's flagship policy

:16:45. > :16:49.for improving outcomes, but today the Independent is saying that

:16:50. > :16:54.officials in the Department for Education have said there is no

:16:55. > :16:57.chance of a new selective school before 2020. Can the Secretary of

:16:58. > :17:04.State confirm how many selective schools are to be built in this

:17:05. > :17:09.Parliament? The consultation finished last week. We will now look

:17:10. > :17:13.at the responses to it. We have to recognise that we need an education

:17:14. > :17:16.system that has more good school places, especially for children in

:17:17. > :17:22.parts of the country that don't have access to them. Rather than carping

:17:23. > :17:25.with no suggestions, I hope we can have a good debate now that the

:17:26. > :17:26.consultation has finished and bring forward additional grammar school

:17:27. > :17:41.places. The school workforce census reports

:17:42. > :17:45.a constant vacancy rate of 0.2% of teachers in post. New analysis

:17:46. > :17:49.published in September looks at the proportion of schools with at least

:17:50. > :17:56.one vacancy. This measure has sung the Luke shown some variance since

:17:57. > :17:58.2010, with London having the highest proportion of vacancies. The

:17:59. > :18:01.department is also working to identify those schools experiencing

:18:02. > :18:06.the greatest teacher shortages and to support them to meet those

:18:07. > :18:09.challenges. Good teaching depends on retaining good teachers in the

:18:10. > :18:12.profession. Does the minister not accept that the consistent

:18:13. > :18:15.underfunding of schools in disadvantaged areas such as the

:18:16. > :18:20.north-east makes retaining teachers difficult, and will he look again at

:18:21. > :18:23.the cost adjustment element of the national funding formula that could

:18:24. > :18:29.have the adverse effect of sending money away from disadvantaged areas

:18:30. > :18:32.into more affluent ones? We have protected the score schools but in

:18:33. > :18:37.real terms throughout this Parliament and the last. We have

:18:38. > :18:41.also grasped the nettle, something the Labour government failed to do

:18:42. > :18:47.while in office, of introducing fair funding. One of the elements of that

:18:48. > :18:54.is in ensuring sufficient funds to tackle disadvantaged and lower

:18:55. > :18:57.attainment. Schools in Somerset have great teachers, but find it hard to

:18:58. > :19:01.recruit does. Does my right honourable friend agree that

:19:02. > :19:06.adjusting the funding formula will help rural areas like mine attract

:19:07. > :19:12.and retain excellent teachers? My honourable friend is right. Areas

:19:13. > :19:20.around the country have been underfunded for many years. We have

:19:21. > :19:25.been the first government that has grasped this nettle introducing a

:19:26. > :19:28.much fairer national funding formula that will deal with these historic,

:19:29. > :19:38.and anachronistic and unfair national funding formulas. Regarding

:19:39. > :19:41.the proposed funding formula last week, can I ask the minister how it

:19:42. > :19:45.helps recruit and retain teachers when all but one of the schools in

:19:46. > :19:52.my constituency will lose money under the funding formula? The

:19:53. > :19:57.national funding formula has been introduced to ensure that we have a

:19:58. > :20:00.fair funding system. We are consulting on that system over the

:20:01. > :20:07.next 40 weeks, and I am sure the honourable gentleman will send him

:20:08. > :20:12.his representations. If an outstanding academy in the New

:20:13. > :20:15.Forest, minutes from the seaside, is having difficulty recruiting an

:20:16. > :20:23.English teacher, what hope is there for anywhere else? My honourable

:20:24. > :20:26.friend raises an important point. The national funding formula will

:20:27. > :20:31.help schools have the resources to enable them to use the discretion we

:20:32. > :20:34.have given schools in how they reward teachers, particularly in

:20:35. > :20:46.those subjects where they find it difficult to recruit. Can I take

:20:47. > :20:53.this opportunity to wish the House well. The Association of schools and

:20:54. > :20:58.college leaders have found that opening up new grammars may worsen

:20:59. > :21:00.new teacher recruitment is. Doesn't he think the priority should be

:21:01. > :21:06.incentivising teacher recruitment and retention, rather than taking

:21:07. > :21:16.the retrograde step of providing new armers that will do nothing for new

:21:17. > :21:21.pupils and parents? We are prioritising teacher recruitment. We

:21:22. > :21:25.met 94% of our target last year and 93% this year. We are recruiting

:21:26. > :21:29.more teachers in science than before. She should look at the

:21:30. > :21:33.number of teachers coming into teacher training, and acknowledge

:21:34. > :21:38.the fact that there are 456,000 teachers in our schools today, an

:21:39. > :21:49.all-time high, and there are 50,000 more teachers today than in 2010.

:21:50. > :21:56.May I take the opportunity to thank the honourable gentleman for the

:21:57. > :22:00.work he does for education. Helping all young people to get the careers

:22:01. > :22:06.education and guidance they need is crucial to delivering social

:22:07. > :22:09.mobility. That is why we are investing ?90 million over the

:22:10. > :22:12.parliament to ensure that every young person has access to advice

:22:13. > :22:15.and inspiration to fulfil their potential. This includes further

:22:16. > :22:21.funding for the careers and enterprise company to continue the

:22:22. > :22:28.excellent work it has started, including 1 million for the first

:22:29. > :22:31.six opportunity areas. The all-party group for education is conducting an

:22:32. > :22:37.inquiry into how we prepare children for their future careers. It seems

:22:38. > :22:41.to be not just the academic, but also the soft skills. Does the

:22:42. > :22:47.government feel that it is doing that ably enough, and would you

:22:48. > :22:53.attend the launch of our document when it is produced on the 7th of

:22:54. > :22:58.February? The honourable gentleman makes an important point. Not enough

:22:59. > :23:04.schools are encouraging their children to do not just soft skills,

:23:05. > :23:07.but all skills and technical education and apprenticeships. We

:23:08. > :23:11.have worked to change that and make sure schools talk about

:23:12. > :23:14.apprenticeships and skills when they give careers advice. We are

:23:15. > :23:20.investing millions in the careers enterprise company, which is going

:23:21. > :23:26.to look after 250,000 students in areas of the country that have least

:23:27. > :23:30.careers provision. In terms of the event that the honourable gentleman

:23:31. > :23:37.has asked me to, I will do my best. I have to obviously check the diary.

:23:38. > :23:41.The junction of the careers and enterprise company will do a great

:23:42. > :23:45.deal to improve careers advice among secondary school students. But to

:23:46. > :23:49.encourage more girls into a science career, we have to start earlier in

:23:50. > :23:53.primary schools. Can the minister confirmed that increasing diversity

:23:54. > :24:00.in the careers that leads to greater productivity will form a central

:24:01. > :24:05.part of the Stem related strategies? Again, my honourable friend is

:24:06. > :24:09.right. We need to do everything was able to ensure that young people do

:24:10. > :24:16.the empty macro subjects are encouraged into doing so -- the Stem

:24:17. > :24:19.subjects. That is why we are encouraging apprenticeships. It is

:24:20. > :24:23.why the get up and go campaign focuses on Stem subjects and

:24:24. > :24:30.encouraging more women to do the skills we need. I am glad to hear of

:24:31. > :24:36.the minister's support for young people studying Stem subjects. Does

:24:37. > :24:42.he share my disappointment that the GCSE in environmental science has

:24:43. > :24:46.now been discontinued? There are alternative qualifications. I would

:24:47. > :24:49.also add that we are creating a state-of-the-art technical education

:24:50. > :24:55.system with 15 different pathways, which will have important technical

:24:56. > :25:02.routes and qualifications that will have the prestige and give employers

:25:03. > :25:06.the qualifications that they need. The minister knows that university

:25:07. > :25:08.technical colleges can be a fantastic route into

:25:09. > :25:13.apprenticeships, degrees and jobs. The proposed Gloucestershire health

:25:14. > :25:17.university technical College will be a magnificent example of this, but

:25:18. > :25:26.with the minister to the chamber when the delayed deadline for UCT

:25:27. > :25:29.applications will be announced? My honourable friend is right to

:25:30. > :25:34.highlight the importance of UCT and here's a champion of apprentices and

:25:35. > :25:38.skills in his constituency since he has been elected. I will speak to my

:25:39. > :25:55.honourable friend the UCT minister about question he raises. Question

:25:56. > :25:59.number seven, Mr Speaker. Following the EU referendum on the 23rd of

:26:00. > :26:04.June, we are considering all aspects of how the vote of the people of the

:26:05. > :26:08.United Kingdom to leave the EU might impact on further education

:26:09. > :26:11.institutions. This includes consideration of institutions'

:26:12. > :26:14.access to EU funding sources. We are committed to ensuring that the FE

:26:15. > :26:18.sector remains effective in delivering learning that provides

:26:19. > :26:25.individuals with the skills the economy needs for growth. The

:26:26. > :26:28.Chancellor of the Exchequer committed to stability in the period

:26:29. > :26:39.leading up to departure from the EU. Further institutions in Glasgow need

:26:40. > :26:43.a certainty in this scenario, including those who have benefited

:26:44. > :26:48.from European social fund to the tune of ?1.5 million this year

:26:49. > :26:52.alone. Brexit is not a circumstance of Glasgow's choosing. Will the

:26:53. > :26:57.government commit to abandon the empty "Brexit means Brexit" rhetoric

:26:58. > :27:05.and publish detailed plans on Sunday? I say to the honourable lady

:27:06. > :27:11.that leaving the European Union means that we all want to take our

:27:12. > :27:15.own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously

:27:16. > :27:17.targeted by EU funding. The government is consulting closely

:27:18. > :27:22.with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes to ensure that any

:27:23. > :27:25.ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK's national interest,

:27:26. > :27:33.while ensuring appropriate certainty.

:27:34. > :27:40.You are not be sensible for the government to commit simply

:27:41. > :27:50.replacing EU funding with UK funding, keeping everyone happy? My

:27:51. > :27:55.honourable friend makes an important point. The government of the UK will

:27:56. > :28:05.decide how best to spend the money that was previously going to the

:28:06. > :28:11.European Union. Colleges Scotland have received 250 million in EU

:28:12. > :28:15.funding to fund capital projects. Given it was this government who

:28:16. > :28:18.gambled away Scotland's membership, what is the likelihood of this

:28:19. > :28:32.government replacing this type of vital funding in the years ahead. I

:28:33. > :28:35.find it interesting that the party's position is to campaign for more

:28:36. > :28:41.powers to go from Westminster to Scotland and yet they would like

:28:42. > :28:45.funding decisions decided in the EU than in Scotland. Having said that

:28:46. > :28:51.she will know the Chancellor has announced the Treasury will

:28:52. > :28:56.guarantee investment bids which are signed before the UK leaves the EU

:28:57. > :29:00.including funding for projects agreed after the Autumn Statement if

:29:01. > :29:02.they represent good value for money and if they are aligned with the

:29:03. > :29:11.continue beyond the departure from continue beyond the departure from

:29:12. > :29:14.the EU. We know that our further education colleges benefit hugely

:29:15. > :29:22.from European social funds. The government told me in February that

:29:23. > :29:31.the funding agency had ?725 million and 120 million went to colleges

:29:32. > :29:34.from funding, it guarantees jobs and skills. Can the Minister guarantee

:29:35. > :29:43.that government will replace this after Brexit and F E colleges, which

:29:44. > :29:51.provide courses and get the same guarantee as universities? Thank

:29:52. > :29:56.you, Mr Speaker, I had hoped in the spirit of Christmas the honourable

:29:57. > :30:02.gentleman might have welcomed the 900,000 apprenticeship

:30:03. > :30:08.participation, the highest in our island's history. The access to

:30:09. > :30:11.European funding is one aspect of business that is impacted by the

:30:12. > :30:17.decision to leave the European Union and we are considering all aspects

:30:18. > :30:21.of how colleges may be affected but it is worth noting that by 2020 the

:30:22. > :30:26.adult budget will be the highest in the nation's history if you include

:30:27. > :30:45.apprenticeships. All this getting up is good

:30:46. > :30:50.preparation for Christmas. If he knows he has the next question he is

:30:51. > :30:53.very welcome to remain standing at the box, nobody would think there is

:30:54. > :30:58.anything disorderly or unreasonable about that. Thank you, it is good

:30:59. > :31:11.for the calories in advance of Christmas.

:31:12. > :31:22.We are making over 60 million support apprenticeship take-up from

:31:23. > :31:26.disadvantaged areas. Our campaign aims to get more young people to

:31:27. > :31:32.apply for an apprenticeship. We are increasing the number of

:31:33. > :31:37.traineeships. What measures is he putting in place to overcome

:31:38. > :31:45.barriers to accessing apprenticeships and for ensuring a

:31:46. > :31:50.good promotion of them by schools? I thank my honourable friend for this

:31:51. > :31:57.question. We are putting 60 million in deprived areas to encourage

:31:58. > :32:03.trainers to have that. We are putting a lot of funding into

:32:04. > :32:08.helping 16-18 -year-olds, supporting businesses and providers. We are

:32:09. > :32:20.supporting health and social care apprenticeships if they have a plan

:32:21. > :32:26.from the local authority. We're giving 12 million to the fund. This

:32:27. > :32:33.government is committed to ensuring most young people can do

:32:34. > :32:38.apprenticeships. From next April, many schools will pave the

:32:39. > :32:41.apprenticeship levy, and other cost. That is an additional cost of

:32:42. > :32:47.?15,000. Will the Minister agreed to meet with me and another member and

:32:48. > :32:56.concerned headteachers to discuss the impact of the levy on schools

:32:57. > :33:01.and academies. I'm very happy to meet with the honourable lady but

:33:02. > :33:04.the whole purpose of the levy is to change behaviours and ensure we

:33:05. > :33:08.become an apprenticeship and skilled nation. If the schools have the

:33:09. > :33:17.needs of their levy then not only will they not pay any levy but they

:33:18. > :33:20.will get 10% on top. Small businesses often give the best

:33:21. > :33:26.experience to an apprentice but lack the resources to support them. What

:33:27. > :33:31.steps is the Minister taking to encourage small businesses to take

:33:32. > :33:37.on apprentices? I know that the honourable friend is a champion of

:33:38. > :33:41.small businesses in his constituency. We are doing huge

:33:42. > :33:45.amounts to encourage small businesses to take on young

:33:46. > :33:49.apprentices, huge financial incentives for the providers and the

:33:50. > :33:53.businesses, small businesses have to pay no training cost at all if they

:33:54. > :34:00.have 16-18 -year-olds. We have cut national insurance for

:34:01. > :34:04.apprenticeships up to the age of 25. The scheme must be better publicised

:34:05. > :34:08.in our high schools and primary schools to encourage those who don't

:34:09. > :34:10.feel comfortable in academia to understand there are options

:34:11. > :34:15.available to them. Could the Minister specified how the

:34:16. > :34:20.Department plans to implement any such system in schools? As so often,

:34:21. > :34:23.the honourable gentleman makes a the honourable gentleman makes a

:34:24. > :34:27.good point. When I go around the country, again and again,

:34:28. > :34:31.apprentices have not been encouraged by their schools to do this and we

:34:32. > :34:41.are looking at how to ensure that careers encourage them. We are

:34:42. > :34:52.investing ?90 million in careers, they have many advisers, getting

:34:53. > :34:59.kids to do work experience. We are committed to tackling inequalities

:35:00. > :35:06.so that all pupils can fulfil their potential. We welcome the

:35:07. > :35:20.contribution, including the benefits of an academic curriculum. The

:35:21. > :35:28.northern powerhouse challenge as well funded as the London challenge

:35:29. > :35:34.was funded with the very welcome, for schools such as one outstanding

:35:35. > :35:38.school in my constituency. What support will be available to schools

:35:39. > :35:48.like that already doing their very best in very disadvantaged areas?

:35:49. > :35:56.There is an achievement gap which is why in March 2016 the Chancellor

:35:57. > :36:07.announced ?20 million of new funding to support a northern powerhouse

:36:08. > :36:10.strategy. Old Trafford is the best performing in North England but one

:36:11. > :36:15.of the worst funded authorities. I'm sure he can imagine the concern that

:36:16. > :36:19.the draft funding formula produced last week would lead to all

:36:20. > :36:25.secondary schools being worse off and the number of primary schools

:36:26. > :36:27.being worse off. Can I ask him to look as a matter of urgency at the

:36:28. > :36:31.nature of the funding formula to ensure fairness to the

:36:32. > :36:42.which have been underfunded? They which have been underfunded? They

:36:43. > :36:50.will see gains, some ?210 million, but in Trafford there is a loss of

:36:51. > :36:51.0.4%. The current formula under funds primary is computed

:36:52. > :37:05.secondaries. Under the proposed national funding

:37:06. > :37:14.formula, the secondaries will lose but the primaries will game. The

:37:15. > :37:20.education policy found that there are no better standards in local

:37:21. > :37:25.authorities so why is expanding trust is key to driving up

:37:26. > :37:29.standards? Is it because he is very well paid by an academy trust and is

:37:30. > :37:35.there perchance any evidence? He is experienced in running a very

:37:36. > :37:48.successful one. Sponsored academies do increase more rapidly. One of the

:37:49. > :37:51.causes identified is the challenge of teacher supply. Does my

:37:52. > :37:58.honourable friend agree with me that one way of improving that will be to

:37:59. > :38:02.recruit more members from the former members of the Armed Forces into the

:38:03. > :38:06.teaching profession? I do agree and we have a scheme that does just

:38:07. > :38:11.that, and as the years go by it is recruiting increasing numbers, small

:38:12. > :38:21.numbers but increasing numbers of highly qualified but experienced

:38:22. > :38:24.ex-military personnel. Thank you, Mr Speaker, we've not permanently

:38:25. > :38:36.closed any academies within three years of their conversion, but we've

:38:37. > :38:40.re-brokered them. If no school has been closed within three years of

:38:41. > :38:44.such conversion and now Academy closed solely as a result of a bad

:38:45. > :38:50.Ofsted report and there is no reliable estimate of the cost or the

:38:51. > :38:55.availability of alternate places and future demand and the real travel

:38:56. > :38:58.alternative schools, how does the alternative schools, how does the

:38:59. > :39:06.government justified reneging on their promise to the pupils and

:39:07. > :39:14.parents to rescue an Academy in my constituency rather than close the

:39:15. > :39:17.school? No decision has been taken yet on the future of this academy

:39:18. > :39:22.but ministers are going to consider all options and the view of parents

:39:23. > :39:37.in the community before reaching a final decision. They will ensure

:39:38. > :39:42.that they get good access. Increasing this for pupils underpins

:39:43. > :39:46.our commitment to making sure our country works for everyone and in

:39:47. > :39:49.the pupil premium we are narrowing the gap between disadvantaged pupils

:39:50. > :39:57.and their peers and indeed, this can be seen in the primary school in

:39:58. > :40:07.Enfield which I want to congratulate for its excellent work on pupil

:40:08. > :40:13.premium. Thank you for the response. On the response from my right

:40:14. > :40:17.honourable friend for Harlow, given the school's link with local

:40:18. > :40:21.employers, they have let their most vulnerable. Can I commend the

:40:22. > :40:24.Secretary of State for the good example of the TEFL steps in to work

:40:25. > :40:41.programme which is bucking the national trend. It is something I do

:40:42. > :40:52.commend. We're working with it to strengthen links between employers

:40:53. > :40:57.and schools when you get a close relationship, especially for those

:40:58. > :41:04.with learning difficulties, it can make a great difference. There is a

:41:05. > :41:09.serious problem here in terms of disadvantaged young people, clever

:41:10. > :41:17.and bright at the age of 11, then lose them, they fail in secondary.

:41:18. > :41:20.Is she further aware, though she is reluctant to answer the question,

:41:21. > :41:24.how many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are locked

:41:25. > :41:25.into the further education system unable to get their GCSEs in maths

:41:26. > :41:39.and English? When is she going to do and English? When is she going to do

:41:40. > :41:46.something about it? We've seen the attainment gap getting lower between

:41:47. > :41:51.disadvantaged young people and those who start off from better

:41:52. > :41:58.backgrounds. We put resources into the system. Further education is one

:41:59. > :42:01.of our key aims across the Parliament to make sure it delivers

:42:02. > :42:18.the same gold standard. The House will know that the

:42:19. > :42:25.Secretary of State failed to commit to building a school in this

:42:26. > :42:30.Parliament. Today, the policy Institute have released evidence

:42:31. > :42:32.showing you cannot future proof and 11 plus test. Does she agree with me

:42:33. > :42:36.that selection at 11 will favour that selection at 11 will favour

:42:37. > :42:39.families that can afford it and do nothing to improve the educational

:42:40. > :42:44.outcomes of the most disadvantaged pupils?

:42:45. > :42:52.I disagree. As usual, from the opposition, we have had criticism

:42:53. > :42:55.but no alternative policies whatsoever, and a continued failure

:42:56. > :43:00.by the opposition to set out whether it would close existing grammars. At

:43:01. > :43:04.some stage, it would be fantastic to get clarity on Labour Party policy.

:43:05. > :43:09.We want to see more good school places for children, particularly

:43:10. > :43:15.disadvantaged children, and we know the disadvantaged children on free

:43:16. > :43:19.school meals who get into grammar schools see the attainment gap

:43:20. > :43:23.closed by the time they leave. The new national curriculum that came

:43:24. > :43:27.into force in September 2014 expects every pupil to know the

:43:28. > :43:33.multiplication tables to 12 times 12 by the end of year four. We have

:43:34. > :43:36.strengthened our primary maths assessment to prioritise fluency in

:43:37. > :43:40.written calculation and we have removed the use of calculators from

:43:41. > :43:43.key stage two tests. We have not made an assessment of the proportion

:43:44. > :43:48.of children in Northamptonshire or England who know the multiplication

:43:49. > :43:50.tables by heart, but we plan to intend a multiplication tables check

:43:51. > :43:54.for primary school pupils in England to ensure that every child leaves

:43:55. > :44:01.primary school fluent in that times tables up to and including 12 times

:44:02. > :44:08.12. Which my friend madrasas is 144. We are all much better informed!

:44:09. > :44:11.Would my honourable friend agree that learning your times tables is

:44:12. > :44:15.essential for success and maths, and what is the government's official

:44:16. > :44:20.view to the best way in which times tables should be taught and learnt?

:44:21. > :44:23.We don't have an official way of how this is taught, but we do expect

:44:24. > :44:29.every child to know their tables. The reason it is until year four is

:44:30. > :44:32.so that children can recall the times tables automatically so that

:44:33. > :44:39.they can then tackle long multiplication and long division. We

:44:40. > :44:43.want all pupils to be healthy and active and have the opportunity to

:44:44. > :44:48.engage in sport and physical activity. That is why PE remains a

:44:49. > :44:52.compulsory subject at all four key stages in the national curriculum

:44:53. > :44:57.and since 2013, we have given ?600 million to primary schools to

:44:58. > :45:04.include the quality of PE provision, with that doubling from 2017. Given

:45:05. > :45:07.the urgent need to tackle child obesity and physical inactivity, can

:45:08. > :45:12.my right honourable friend tell the House what steps he is taking to

:45:13. > :45:15.work with organisations such as the UK active outdoor industry

:45:16. > :45:18.Association as well as local organisations like active Cheshire

:45:19. > :45:24.to follow the example of the school where my daughter goes to take

:45:25. > :45:27.forward more daily initiatives? As a fellow Cheshire MP, I am aware of

:45:28. > :45:34.the excellent work done by local schools and local groups in

:45:35. > :45:38.partnerships. We welcome initiatives such as the daily mile. They help

:45:39. > :45:42.teachers have the autonomy to make good decisions on behalf of their

:45:43. > :45:48.pupils to have an array of excellent initiatives, and we continue to

:45:49. > :45:52.promote those. The minister is too modest in declining to take the

:45:53. > :45:55.opportunity to say that he has himself over many years led by

:45:56. > :45:58.example to his repeated and impressive marathon running, with

:45:59. > :46:05.which the whole House by now should be familiar. Physical activities are

:46:06. > :46:07.important to equip the next generation with the skills to

:46:08. > :46:12.contend with both their physical health and the mental health. But

:46:13. > :46:15.alone, it will not content with our nation's obesity crisis. We know

:46:16. > :46:21.from the child measurement figures how challenging this is for our

:46:22. > :46:24.country. Will his government be bringing forward compulsory PSHE so

:46:25. > :46:27.we can equip the next generation with the knowledge and skills to

:46:28. > :46:32.know what they should be eating as well as what physical activities

:46:33. > :46:36.they should be doing? I have already told the House that PE is compulsory

:46:37. > :46:40.at all four key stages. The Secretary of State has set out the

:46:41. > :46:45.need to improve the access and quality of PSHE, and that is

:46:46. > :46:49.something we are looking forward to. I will be taking part in the London

:46:50. > :46:53.Marathon again next year to continue my efforts to lead by example. The

:46:54. > :47:04.honourable gentleman is genuinely a hero! Topical questions, Mr Nigel

:47:05. > :47:09.Huddlestone. If I can just wish everybody a happy Christmas in the

:47:10. > :47:15.House as well. Mr Speaker, the latest stab figures show that there

:47:16. > :47:18.are near Ely 1.8 million -- there are nearly 1.8 million children

:47:19. > :47:22.being taught in outstanding schools than in 2010. Our consultation has

:47:23. > :47:27.ended and we look forward to responding to that in due course. In

:47:28. > :47:30.the past few weeks, we have announced ?114 million for the

:47:31. > :47:34.strategic school improvement fund and have published the next age of

:47:35. > :47:39.consultation on our national fairer funding formula for schools across

:47:40. > :47:43.England, which will finally bring an end to the historic postcode lottery

:47:44. > :47:47.of school funding. I also saw the excellent teacher exchange programme

:47:48. > :47:52.in Shanghai, China, earlier this month, as well as visiting many

:47:53. > :47:56.great schools in our own country. Team GB gave an incredible

:47:57. > :48:00.performance that this year's Rio Olympic Games, bringing home 67

:48:01. > :48:04.medals. One third of those medal winners went to private schools

:48:05. > :48:09.compared to 7% of the population as a whole. What else is the government

:48:10. > :48:16.doing to encourage greater participation in sport in our state

:48:17. > :48:19.schools? Since 2013, we have provided over ?600 million to

:48:20. > :48:26.primary schools through the primary PE and sport premium, which is

:48:27. > :48:32.making a difference. In independent research, schools reported an 84%

:48:33. > :48:35.increase in participation in extracurricular activities. We know

:48:36. > :48:42.there is more to do, and that is why we have doubled a premium to ?320

:48:43. > :48:45.million a year from autumn 2017. I would also like to wish the

:48:46. > :48:49.Secretary of State a Merry Christmas and all the members of the House,

:48:50. > :48:53.but it ain't going to be a Merry Christmas for our schools. The

:48:54. > :48:56.recent government consultation says there will be a floor on schools

:48:57. > :49:01.funding so that no school would lose more than 3% of their funding per

:49:02. > :49:08.pupil as a result of changes to the funding formula. Some schools face

:49:09. > :49:12.to severe cuts to manage. But only has the National Audit Office show

:49:13. > :49:15.that schools are facing funding cuts of 8% per pupil, they have

:49:16. > :49:19.criticised her department for failing to make the scale of the

:49:20. > :49:25.coming cuts clear. The Secretary of State has two choices. Order. I am

:49:26. > :49:29.sorry. If we are going to have a right for the opposition front bench

:49:30. > :49:33.to come in on topical is, and I make this clear with immediate effect, it

:49:34. > :49:37.must be done briefly, otherwise it is completely absorbing the time for

:49:38. > :49:42.backbenchers. A single sentence from the honourable lady will suffice.

:49:43. > :49:47.Sorry, Mr Speaker. Will she cut the funding in 2020 or will she issue

:49:48. > :49:53.guidance to schools on what those cuts will be? We are consulting on

:49:54. > :49:58.proposals for a new national funding for here. Everybody accepts the

:49:59. > :50:02.current system is unfair, transparent and out of date and it

:50:03. > :50:07.doesn't support our aspiration for all children to reach their

:50:08. > :50:11.potential to succeed in adult life. There is little or no justification

:50:12. > :50:14.for the differences that local schools get at the moment. The

:50:15. > :50:17.consultation is now under way. I have no doubt that honourable

:50:18. > :50:25.members across the House will want to respond. The former Chancellor

:50:26. > :50:28.was the most recent senior Conservative to say that the Prime

:50:29. > :50:32.Minister's plans to include international students in migration

:50:33. > :50:34.figures were not sensible. Will the Secretary of State join us and

:50:35. > :50:38.commit to doing everything she can to reverse this foolish policy and

:50:39. > :50:45.ensure that students are removed from the migration statistics? We

:50:46. > :50:49.value the significant contribution that international students make to

:50:50. > :50:53.our universities. We have no plans to introduce a cap on and take. As

:50:54. > :50:57.the Secretary of State recently announced, we will shortly be

:50:58. > :50:59.seeking views on the study immigration root of all parties

:51:00. > :51:04.including the opposition should ensure their point of view is heard.

:51:05. > :51:10.Getting it right early on is crucially important for life

:51:11. > :51:14.chances. Corby provides flagship nursery provision and early

:51:15. > :51:20.intervention provision which local families appreciate and value. With

:51:21. > :51:23.the minister be willing to visit to discuss how the funding reforms can

:51:24. > :51:31.best support this provision going forward? We all know that maintained

:51:32. > :51:34.nursery schools are a small but important part of the early years

:51:35. > :51:39.sector, providing high quality child care and education, often in

:51:40. > :51:42.disadvantaged areas. They have a potentially important role in

:51:43. > :51:46.shaping best practice with other providers in their area, and I would

:51:47. > :51:50.be happy to meet my honourable friend and other representatives to

:51:51. > :51:53.discuss this further. Does that Secretary of State acknowledge that

:51:54. > :51:58.many schools including the primary school in the most deprived part of

:51:59. > :52:00.my constituency which contacted me on Wednesday are struggling

:52:01. > :52:04.financially as a result of amongst other things, the overhead is being

:52:05. > :52:07.heaped on them. It is children with special educational needs who are

:52:08. > :52:14.likely to suffer most from the financial squeeze. In fact, under

:52:15. > :52:18.the national funding formula that we announced last week to stop the

:52:19. > :52:23.consultation on in relation to high needs, there will be no local areas

:52:24. > :52:26.losing. And we will be able to do not only that, but also ensure that

:52:27. > :52:32.those areas that need to gain who have been underfunded will be able

:52:33. > :52:41.to gain up to 3% over 2018-19 and 2019-20. Following the publication

:52:42. > :52:47.of the key stage two results on Thursday, the national average pass

:52:48. > :52:51.rate was 54%. The Lancashire pass rate was 54%, but the pass rate in

:52:52. > :52:59.my constituency was 47%. What steps is this Parliament taking towards

:53:00. > :53:02.best practice for schools like those in my constituency and what can she

:53:03. > :53:07.do to help schools that are underperforming? I share my

:53:08. > :53:13.honourable friend's concern. We want all schools to use evidence -based

:53:14. > :53:17.teaching and to help spread effective practice. We have

:53:18. > :53:22.established a national network of teaching schools as well as school

:53:23. > :53:25.partnerships led by schools that excel in the teaching of maths,

:53:26. > :53:31.phonics and science. International students are vital to an economy and

:53:32. > :53:34.contribute ?7 billion to universities in the UK. Can the

:53:35. > :53:36.Secretary of State confirm whether or not the government plans to use

:53:37. > :53:41.the new teaching and excellence framework to link student visas to

:53:42. > :53:48.the quality of an institution as a means of cutting immigration? No

:53:49. > :53:54.decision has been taken as to the best way to differentiate in order

:53:55. > :53:57.to allow our best institutions to continue to attract international

:53:58. > :54:01.students at this stage. The Home Secretary has indicated that she

:54:02. > :54:07.will be starting a consultation in the new year. All parties are

:54:08. > :54:09.encouraged to contribute to that. Recognising the mental health

:54:10. > :54:12.challenges faced by an increasing number of young people, can my right

:54:13. > :54:17.honourable friend to the House what steps she is taking to work with

:54:18. > :54:21.bodies such as young minds and the NSPCC to help young people and their

:54:22. > :54:27.parents tackle self harming, which is blighting the lives of too many

:54:28. > :54:32.children? Every child and young person should be able to enjoy good

:54:33. > :54:37.mental health and well-being. My honourable friend is right to raise

:54:38. > :54:40.serious concerns about self harm. We are working with the Department of

:54:41. > :54:45.Health to tackle it by funding guidance for schools on teaching

:54:46. > :54:51.about self-harm and pointing parents towards the Mind portal and the

:54:52. > :54:56.invaluable NSPCC ChildLine, but we know there is more to do. The 80

:54:57. > :55:02.sector in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland supported SNP

:55:03. > :55:05.amendments to the higher education Bill on UK research and innovation.

:55:06. > :55:09.Can the Secretary of State tell us if she plans to look at this issue

:55:10. > :55:16.again, or is she happy to ignore the HE voices within the devolved

:55:17. > :55:19.nations? The honourable gentleman will have seen the amendment

:55:20. > :55:24.ensuring that there will be at least one member of the UK border with

:55:25. > :55:28.experience of the excellent research that goes on in at least one of our

:55:29. > :55:33.devolved administrations. Universities like Sunderland do a

:55:34. > :55:36.fantastic job supporting part-time and mature students into higher

:55:37. > :55:40.education. Ministers claim to support this, so why in the Autumn

:55:41. > :55:46.Statement was funding for widening participation cut by 50%? The

:55:47. > :55:53.honourable lady will be encouraged to see that spending on access

:55:54. > :55:59.agreements will increase to over ?800 million in the next financial

:56:00. > :56:02.year, up from ?400 million when this last coalition government came into

:56:03. > :56:08.office, almost doubling the amount being spent on this important area.

:56:09. > :56:11.The Secretary of State will remember the historic and ongoing problems

:56:12. > :56:16.with flooding in Tipton St John primary school. Will she ever

:56:17. > :56:20.announce an early Christmas present for the people of Tipton St John by

:56:21. > :56:26.announcing that her department is going to contribute to the funding

:56:27. > :56:29.solution to relocate the school to Ottery St Mary? Following his

:56:30. > :56:32.meeting on the top of October with my right honourable friend the

:56:33. > :56:37.Secretary of State and representatives from the county to

:56:38. > :56:41.consider plans to relocate the school, a feasibility study was

:56:42. > :56:45.submitted to the educational funding agency. Officials have reviewed the

:56:46. > :56:49.report and have been in dialogue with Devon County Council to address

:56:50. > :56:52.outstanding issues. Once those are resolved, a decision can be taken

:56:53. > :56:53.about whether a central funding contribution can be made and whether

:56:54. > :57:10.he will have a Christmas present. What contingency plans does the

:57:11. > :57:15.Minister has showed a source of recruitment for EU teachers

:57:16. > :57:20.diminish. As I said earlier the government welcomes the contribution

:57:21. > :57:23.EU students and international students make to higher education

:57:24. > :57:31.institutions and there is no plan to introduce a cap on that number. We

:57:32. > :57:35.continue to welcome EU students. Superb schools across my

:57:36. > :57:38.constituency based a double financial whammy of being both rural

:57:39. > :57:44.and small. Under new funding formula is only eight schools will get

:57:45. > :57:49.another blip. Could the minister look again at school is not hitting

:57:50. > :57:55.the traditional markers of deprivation? -- get an uplift. We

:57:56. > :57:58.have a consultation on introducing a national funding formula. We have

:57:59. > :58:04.tried to make sure there are factors affecting schools in more remote

:58:05. > :58:07.locations but also where they have higher cost bases under the

:58:08. > :58:13.additional costs allowance to reflect that as well. This is a

:58:14. > :58:19.consultation and I'm sure she will want to have input into this. Last

:58:20. > :58:22.Tuesday was in 2000 people filled the Royal concert Hall in Nottingham

:58:23. > :58:28.to hear hundreds of schoolchildren singing and playing together in the

:58:29. > :58:33.Nottingham music service Christmas in the city concert. The opportunity

:58:34. > :58:37.to learn to play music is very important in building confidence and

:58:38. > :58:40.enjoyment of school and will she visit Nottingham music service to

:58:41. > :58:45.hear more of the wonderful work but they are doing in our city schools

:58:46. > :58:49.were more than 8000 students are learning to play a musical

:58:50. > :58:56.instrument? ?300 million has been announced for music and the arts. I

:58:57. > :59:00.recognise how important music is and I hope those children will get the

:59:01. > :59:11.benefit of the ongoing investment this government is now putting in.

:59:12. > :59:14.Willmore pupils be able to take up places in grammar schools? Once we

:59:15. > :59:17.have got through the response to consultation and had the chance to

:59:18. > :59:21.change the law hopefully preventing grammar schools from being opened, I

:59:22. > :59:30.hope we will be able to make progress on this. And finally, Fiona

:59:31. > :59:36.McTaggart. Headteachers will be grateful to the Minister for meeting

:59:37. > :59:39.with them to discuss teacher shortages but unfortunately, I have

:59:40. > :59:43.reminded him twice since then about the fact that they have not received

:59:44. > :59:49.the letter he promised at that meeting. Can I expect that before

:59:50. > :59:53.Christmas? I will do my utmost to ensure they receive a letter and I

:59:54. > :59:58.enjoyed reading them, they raised important points, but we are

:59:59. > :00:04.ensuring that we are filling teacher training places and there are more

:00:05. > :00:05.teachers now in the system than last year. Statement. The Prime