Topical Questions

Tim Roca (Macclesfield) (Lab) asked the Secretary of State for Education to make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. The Secretary of State, Bridget Phillipson, thanked all staff working across education and wished all learners the best for the year ahead. She stated that the new government's mission is to break down barriers to opportunity and ensure that every child has the best start in life. However, she acknowledged the many inherited challenges, including a childcare pledge without a delivery plan, a crumbling schools estate, a school attendance crisis, large attainment gaps, and falling apprenticeship starts and training opportunities. Roca then asked the Secretary of State to meet him to discuss how they can properly fund schools in the Macclesfield area, which have some of the lowest funding in the country due to 14 years of Conservative mismanagement. Phillipson agreed to meet Roca to discuss the matter further. Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con) then intervened, recalling that under the last Labour government, England had tumbled down the world education rankings, and the literacy and numeracy of recent school leavers was worse than that of the generation about to retire. He asked the Secretary of State if she expects a different result this time by following the same failed Labour approach. Phillipson responded by stating that the former Minister should know that he and others were cautioned about how they should be using data. She pointed out that under the last Conservative government, reading standards, maths and science standards, and school attendance were all declining. Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington) (Lab) asked the Minister for School Standards, Catherine McKinnell, about the schools allocation policy, which he believes is not fit for purpose, as far too many students in his constituency have not yet been able to secure a school place of their choice. McKinnell acknowledged the challenges and stated that the government will introduce changes to allow state-funded schools to cooperate with local authorities on admissions and place planning. She offered to meet Lavery to support him in resolving the issues in his area. Munira Wilson (Twickenham) (LD) raised concerns about the funding drop for disadvantaged pupils between 16 and 19, as well as the axing of 16-to-19 tuition and the lack of the pupil premium for that age group. She asked the Secretary of State if she will consider increasing funding targeted at this group if she is serious about smashing the glass ceiling. Phillipson acknowledged the importance of targeting funding effectively and stated that her top priority is ensuring support for children and young people at the earliest possible point, through a commitment to early education and childcare.