Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the difference in attainment rates in GCSE a) English and b) Maths by age 19 between South Basildon and East Thurrock and the national average.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The latest available data for the 2023/24 academic year shows that by age 19, 76.3% of young people in South Basildon and East Thurrock had achieved a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and 69.8% in GCSE maths, compared with national averages of 82.9% and 79.0%. The department has committed £27.7 million this financial year to raise reading standards and are introducing a new statutory year 8 reading test to strengthen reading at key stage 3. Curriculum and GCSE reforms will deliver clearer, better‑sequenced, content. Schools will be supported by the universal regional improvement for standards and excellence programme providing sector‑led school improvement support. As part of the Post‑16 Education and Skills White Paper, the department is introducing reforms to support progression to Level 2 English and maths. This includes new 16 to 19 Level 1 qualifications for lower‑attaining students, revising the accountability framework and sharing effective practice through a Further Education Commissioner guide.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to reduce the proportion of young people who do not achieve a grade 4 in GCSE a) Maths and b) English by age 19.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The latest available data for the 2023/24 academic year shows that by age 19, 76.3% of young people in South Basildon and East Thurrock had achieved a grade 4 or above in GCSE English and 69.8% in GCSE maths, compared with national averages of 82.9% and 79.0%. The department has committed £27.7 million this financial year to raise reading standards and are introducing a new statutory year 8 reading test to strengthen reading at key stage 3. Curriculum and GCSE reforms will deliver clearer, better‑sequenced, content. Schools will be supported by the universal regional improvement for standards and excellence programme providing sector‑led school improvement support. As part of the Post‑16 Education and Skills White Paper, the department is introducing reforms to support progression to Level 2 English and maths. This includes new 16 to 19 Level 1 qualifications for lower‑attaining students, revising the accountability framework and sharing effective practice through a Further Education Commissioner guide.
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 plans to maintain ongoing engagement with Islamic finance advisory bodies to review the continued sharia compliance of the Alternative Student Finance model.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Details of the department's previous engagements may be accessed on GOV.UK’s ‘Contracts Finder’ tool, which is available at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.
Details of any future commercial engagements, including contracts, will be published on GOV.UK in line with standard arrangements.
Asked by: Terry Jermy (Labour - South West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to ensure that Initial Teacher Training equips all new teachers with the skills to deliver adaptive teaching for children with speech and language challenges.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for South West Norfolk to the answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 115276.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the benefits of tennis-focused teaching as part of PE and sport provision; and what steps is she taking to support tennis education in schools.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Schools play a vital role in giving many pupils their first experience of playing sport, including tennis, in a structured and inclusive environment. This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity so that every child can access high-quality physical education and school sport.
That is why, in June 2025, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced a new approach to PE and school sport, focused on building strong partnerships between schools, local clubs and national governing bodies of sport, such as the Lawn Tennis Association, to support greater participation and physical activity.
National governing bodies provide valuable resources, workforce development and teacher support to help schools deliver high-quality sporting opportunities, both within the PE curriculum and through enrichment activity. The department is preparing to procure a national partner to lead the new PE and School Sport Partnerships, which will provide an opportunity to regularly assess the adequacy of support available to schools across PE and school sport, including the provision for tennis.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West and Islwyn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve training for primary school teachers on how to deliver high quality PE and school sport.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity so every child can access high‑quality PE and school sport.
As announced by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, the government will establish a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network to ensure all children and young people have access to high-quality PE and extracurricular sport. We expect the partnerships to improve school-to-school collaboration, increase opportunities for high-quality PE, encourage children to move more, make best use of facilities and provide teacher CPD and training.
In addition, we have provided a grant of up to £300,000 a year to a consortium led by the Youth Sport Trust to deliver Inclusion 2028, providing advice, guidance and training to upskill teachers and school workforce to deliver high-quality, inclusive PE.
Further details on the PE and School Sports Partnerships will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Restore Britain - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what contracts, memoranda of understanding, or advisory agreements her Department or the Student Loans Company have entered into with Islamic finance advisory organisations in relation to the Alternative Student Finance model; and what the total projected cost of those agreements is over the next five years.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Details of the department's previous engagements may be accessed on GOV.UK’s ‘Contracts Finder’ tool, which is available at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.
Details of any future commercial engagements, including contracts, will be published on GOV.UK in line with standard arrangements.
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 intends to maintain ongoing engagement with Islamic finance advisory bodies to review the continued Sharia compliance of the Alternative Student Finance model; what form that engagement will take; and whether the cost of such engagement will be met from the public purse.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Details of the department's previous engagements may be accessed on GOV.UK’s ‘Contracts Finder’ tool, which is available at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.
Details of any future commercial engagements, including contracts, will be published on GOV.UK in line with standard arrangements.
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 or the Student Loans Company have entered into (a) contracts, (b) memoranda of understanding and (c) advisory agreements with Islamic finance advisory organisations regarding the Alternative Student Finance model.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Details of the department's previous engagements may be accessed on GOV.UK’s ‘Contracts Finder’ tool, which is available at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.
Details of any future commercial engagements, including contracts, will be published on GOV.UK in line with standard arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote reading and the use of libraries to improve reading rates among children.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The department, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, is leading the National Year of Reading 2026 to tackle declining reading enjoyment. This UK-wide campaign combines a marketing initiative with events in schools, libraries, and communities. Activities will take place across the year and will include national events, alongside resources for schools and early years, and library engagement through initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge. The campaign aims to address long-term declines in reading enjoyment through engaging new audiences, reshaping public attitudes and building the systems needed to embed lasting, meaningful change. As part of this, we are providing £5 million of funding for secondary schools to purchase books to encourage reading for pleasure. The government has also committed £12.5 million in funding to guarantee a library for every primary school by the end of this parliament, which will be delivered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The government has also committed £28.3 million this financial year to support and drive high and rising standards in reading. This includes supporting the teaching of reading across all primary stages and key stage 3 in secondary via the English Hubs programme.