Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with specialist sport providers for schools regarding the potential impact of the introduction of the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network on their services.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department conducted sessions with major sector stakeholders including specialist sport providers in the summer 2025, and we have engaged with Sport England and National Governing Bodies of Sport to support policy development. We have also held market engagement events to help develop the scope, and scale of delivery expected from the National Delivery Partner (NDP).
We expect the NDP to draw on local insight to shape priorities and delivery, and we recognise the importance of school sport providers who hold strong local knowledge and trusted relationships with schools and families. They form an important part of this model.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with headteachers on the potential impact of changes to the Primary PE and Sport Premium on schools.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
On the 21 May, my right Hon. Friend, the former Secretary of State for Education, wrote to all head teachers to inform them of the transition to the PE and Sports Partnerships.
We engage regularly with school leadership organisations on the changes to PE and School Sport funding and have responded to schools’ concerns about managing the transition by increasing the transitional PE Premium payment to £150 million, giving time for the Partnerships Network to work with schools to mobilise during the spring term and bring in new support from April.
The department will continue to engage closely with schools through this transition, supporting further with the publication of guidance and conditions of grant for the start of the new academic year, and providing schools with advance notification of the funding formula.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the annual cost to her Department of preparing ministers to respond to Westminster Hall Debates.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It is not possible to provide an exact cost for preparing Ministers to respond to Westminster Hall Debates. There will be differences in the costs of Civil Service, Special Adviser and Ministerial time depending on the policy matter and length of the debate. Debates can also be cross-cutting and require resources from multiple departments or engage departmental bodies.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Invergowrie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review: Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy, published in December 2025, and what steps they intend to take to hold the school to account for the practices highlighted in the report.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The department takes the findings of the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR) very seriously. Our role is to ensure schools meet their statutory duties and respond appropriately to independent reviews and enquiries. Schools must safeguard and promote the welfare of every child.
The Mossbourne Federation has committed to taking forward the LCSPR’s recommendations and has set up an Implementation Committee to oversee changes. The London Regional Director is meeting Mossbourne trustees regularly to review progress.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Restore Britain - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether guidance is issued to schools on assessing the eligibility of pupils to wear kirpans on school premises.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Headteachers have my full support in ensuring schools are safe. Schools are advised by the department that decisions on uniform need to consider their individual circumstances, taking into account both religious freedom and pupil safety.
It should be possible for most religious requirements to be met within a uniform policy and many schools have arrangements in place to allow the wearing of kirpans alongside sensible safeguards, for example limiting their size and requiring them to be sheathed and further enclosed in a securely fastened cushioned pouch.
The department’s advice for schools on developing school uniform policies is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-uniform/school-uniforms. The government keeps all its guidance under regular review.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many MP surgeries Ministers in her Department have had with MPs (a) in the period July 2024 to January 2025 and (b) since January 2025.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Ministers of the department held 28 MP surgeries in the period July 2024 to January 2025, and 229 MP surgeries since January 2025.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for free milk under the school milk scheme.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
I refer the hon. Member for Chichester to the answer of 23 June 2026 to Question 9524.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of extending free school milk provision to all children until the end of the Reception year.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
I refer the hon. Member for Chichester to the answer of 23 June 2026 to Question 9524.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Restore Britain - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department's guidance permits schools to make participation in school events, trips, and extracurricular activities conditional on achieving a minimum attendance rate.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department’s guidance does not prescribe how school attendance rewards and incentives are applied. Decisions about their operation are generally matters for individual schools, reflecting their circumstances and the needs of their pupils.
Where schools choose to link attendance to access to particular activities, we would expect them to do so carefully, proportionately and without discrimination. They should consider reward systems that are inclusive and appropriate for all pupils including those with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
Asked by: Lord Bridges of Headley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the closure of private schools.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
School closures can be influenced by a range of factors, not just the VAT policy. While VAT may have compounded pressure, school closures cannot be attributed to VAT alone. Factors such as school performance, financial viability and demographic shifts also play a role. In the 2025/26 academic year, more private schools opened than closed. The department monitors the private school sector via the ‘Get Information about Schools’ (GIAS) system, which shows that between 1 September 2025 and 31 July 2026, 108 private schools opened and 51 closed.