Question time briefing: Children, schools and families

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ePolitix.com reports on Monday's oral questions to ministers at the Department for Children, Schools and Families.


Schools minister Jim Knight has stressed his confidence in the independent monitor of examinations, Ofqual.

He told the Commons that Ofqual was maintaining a high standard of examination practice. He said that procurement for this summer's Key Stage two tests has gone well, and expressed his confidence in Edexcel.

Adam Holloway (Con, Gravesham) asked if there are any contingencies in place for the coming summer.

Andrew Mackinlay (Lab, Thurrock) expressed his sympathy with head teachers, and suggested that Ofsted inspectors are out-of-touch with the realities of teaching in the classroom.

The minister assured Mackinlay that the government listens to the concerns of teachers and head teachers. Knight added that he has every confidence in the work of the chief inspector of schools.

Damian Green (Con, Ashford) asked the minister to consider methods of assessment in schools, stating that coursework is an "experiment that is failing". He said that many teenagers regard coursework as laughable.

Knight said that coursework is important, and must be completed properly.

Brian Jenkins (Lab, Tamworth) asked for the rationale behind the decision to retain SATs in England. He added that they are destructive for 11-year-olds, and urged the government to listen experts.

Knight said he was looking forward to hearing from the expert group, but defended the decision to keep SATs. He noted that 14-year-olds in England are the best in Europe at maths and science.

Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove criticised the decision by Ofqual to lower the passmark to 20 per cent for certain exams.

He said that some exam boards felt pressurised to lower pass marks. Gove pointed out that 187 independent schools do not bother with school league tables, or enter students for GCSEs.

He compared the examination system to that of South Africa, where richer students have wider opportunities than poorer one, and backed the more robust International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).

Anne Moffat (Lab, East Lothian) expressed her disappointment that the Scottish government has not delivered more apprenticeship places.

Education minister Sarah McCarthy-Fry said that a record number of people started apprenticeships in 2007/08.

Tony Baldry (Con, Banbury) questioned the overlap between diplomas and apprenticeships.

Mary Creagh (Lab, Wakefield) asked what assessment is being done regarding growth restrictions to one per cent a year.

McCarthy-Fry committed the government to increasing the number of apprenticeships available.

John Bercow (Con, Buckingham) asked what steps the government intends to take to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities have access to courses.

McCarthy-Fry acknowledged that these children must be able to take advantage of all education policies, and education authorities must pay specific attention to including them.

David Chaytor (Lab, Bury North) asked if there are any risks to school building plans in Bury under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Schools secretary Ed Balls said that the government does not intend to make any cuts that would threaten plans under BSF.

David Laws, Liberal Democrat schools spokesman, said that the chancellor's plans for spending would see hold-ups in capital expenditure.

Balls encouraged local authorities to work with central government, and added that there has been an increase in the number of projects coming through.

Maria Miller (Con, Basingstoke) called for assurance that no further PFI projects would be delayed, in light of the clear warnings from the construction industry that plans for BSF have ground to a halt.

Balls responded that the government is ahead of schedule on BSF.

Julie Kirkbride (Con, Bromsgrove) asked how many apprenticeship places there will be.

Rosie Cooper (Lab, West Lancashire) highlighted the need for apprenticeships in the construction industry.

McCarthy-Fry said that when the UK emerges from the economic downturn, the country must have invested enough in training.

Bob Spink (UK Independence Party, Castle Point) welcomed the government's initiative on apprenticeships and called for the involvement of employers, through additional funding.

McCarthy-Fry accepted that employer involvement is crucial, and that employers must be involved with young people as early as possible.

Andrew Robathan (Con, Blaby) asked why so many of the top schools are leaving the A-level system.

Nick Gibb (Con, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) expressed his concern at the growing divide in results, between pupils in the independent sector and those who receive free school meals.

Annette Brooke, Liberal Democrat spokesman, said that training for the children's workforce at regular intervals is essential to ensure early recognition of child abuse.

Children's minister Beverley Hughes highlighted the new workforce strategy taskforce. But she warned against criminalising those parents who smack their children.

Khalid Mahmood, (Lab, Birmingham Perry Barr) called for greater leadership to prevent the deaths of children from abuse.

Joan Humble (Lab, Blackpool North and Fleetwood) called for greater inter-agency work to prevent incidents of child abuse and domestic violence.

Hughes said that agencies must address the situation from the point of view of the family. She called on adult and children's services to work together.

John Heppell (Lab, Nottingham East) asked what steps are being taken to access children who are most at risk.

Hughes referred to additional resources for outreach workers, and emphasised the need to develop relationships with these hard-to-reach families.

Tim Loughton, shadow minister for children, said that the 'Baby P' case highlighted the large caseloads that social workers must cope with, and called for investment in the sector to reduce staff turnover.

David Taylor (Lab/Co-op, North West Leicestershire) said that there is still a level of bureaucracy surrounding trust schools.

Peter Bone (Con, Wellingborough) argued that it is "wholly wrong" for a school to be closed if it is not situated in a growth area.

Tom Levitt (Lab, High Peak) welcomed the funding for youth services, and asked what measures are in place to protect it.

Hughes replied that the government has placed a new duty on local authorities to ensure that all young people have access to a wide range of activities. Failure to comply with this duty may result in intervention by the secretary of state, she added.

Topical questions

Ed Balls said that ContactPoint will be fully operational by the summer.

David Taylor (Lab/Co-op, North West Leicestershire) asked how the country can avoid the ever-widening social economic divide between students.

James Duddridge (Con, Rochford and Southend East) asked how schools can best reduce levels of truancy.

Jim Knight pointed to the work of Sir Alan Steer.

Hugh Bayley (Lab, City of York) commended the capital investment programme.

Balls emphasised that the government will expand, and not cut, the BSF and the capital investment programme.

Andrew Robathan (Con, Blaby) said that the devaluation of exams can harm the pupils who take them, and warned that many feel they cannot be proud of their results as the exams are no longer held in the same regard.

Simon Hughes (Lib Dem, North Southwark and Bermondsey) voiced concerns that the consultation on the new school admissions policies closes on March 1, while the policy itself must be implemented by April 15.

John Heppell (Lab, Nottingham East) asked for reassurance that there is no possibility of the future capital programme money being cut.

Philip Hollobone (Con, Kettering) highlighted that some returning teachers are being told to conduct their teacher training again, and are therefore being driven to the private sector.

Celia Barlow (Lab, Hove) called for support for professionals working with children to be reflected across the House.

Balls said that ContactPoint is intended to keep children safe.

Ann Winterton (Con, Congleton) called on the government to encourage regular, informal classroom testing.

Lynda Waltho (Lab, Stourbridge) highlighted that some schools are being deterred from applying for free school meals.

McCarthy-Fry said that the money is available for these schools.

Anne McIntosh (Con, Vale of York) asked about encouraging more funding, a good stream of volunteers and regular premises for youth facilities.

Diane Abbott (Lab, Hackney North and Stoke Newington) asked what the government is doing to reduce the disproportionate levels of school exclusions of young, black men.

Balls pointed to the work of Sir Alan Steer, who suggested reducing exclusions by motivating and supporting young, black men.