Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many pupils have been placed in Pupil Referral Units in England in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what proportion of those pupils are (1) boys, (2) of Black Caribbean origin, and (3) of another ethnic minority.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department publishes annual data on the gender and ethnicity of pupils at schools in England. The most recently published data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2022-23. The publication includes figures for ‘State-funded alternate provision (AP) schools’, which include pupil referral units and alternative provider free schools and academies. The attached tables, taken from the published data, show breakdowns of pupils in these schools by gender and ethnicity from January 2021 to January 2023.
The SEND and AP Improvement Plan, published on 2 March 2023, set out a new national vision and delivery model for the AP system. Departmental reforms will see AP schools working with mainstream settings to provide targeted support and interventions to improve behaviour, attendance and reduce the numbers of preventable exclusions, including for those groups with a greater likelihood of being referred to alternative provision.
Schools also have a clear duty not to discriminate against pupils based on protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. Ofsted’s assessment of behaviour in schools includes specific consideration of rates, patterns and reasons for exclusions, as well as any differences between groups of pupils.
The department’s ‘Understanding your data: a guide for school governors and academy trustees available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-your-data-a-guide-for-school-governors-and-academy-trustees/understanding-your-data-a-guide-for-school-governors-and-academy-trustees, makes clear that governing boards should carefully consider the level and characteristics of pupils who are leaving the school. They should challenge the school and academy trust management teams on any permanent exclusions to ensure it is only used as a last resort, as well as on directions for pupils to be to be educated off site in AP schools. They should also consider whether there are any patterns to the reasons or timing of such moves.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of educational attainment in Pupil Referral Units; and what proportion of pupils in those units gain at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Data is published on the educational attainment of pupils at the end Key Stage 4 in pupil referral units and alternative provision (AP) in the annual Key Stage 4 performance National Statistics release, which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/key-stage-4-performance-revised.
The proportion of pupils who gained at least five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 in academic year 2021/22 in pupil referral units can be found in the attached spreadsheet.
There are many reasons why children who attend AP at Key Stage 4 may face challenges gaining GCSE grades, so it is vital that they receive a high quality education alongside appropriate support. We need to be just as ambitious for pupils in AP as we are for those in mainstream schools. The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and AP Improvement Plan, published on 2 March 2023, set out a new national vision and delivery model for the AP system to improve the outcomes of the vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people it supports.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government when Ofsted last carried out an inspection of Pupil Referral Units; and whether they plan to commission any further reports.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Ofsted is currently conducting a thematic review of local area arrangements for alternative provision (AP) and continues to inspect individual pupil referral units and other AP schools.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of nutrition to children's educational attainment.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government supports the provision of nutritious food in schools to enable pupils to be well nourished, develop healthy eating habits and to concentrate in school. The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 require schools to provide all children with healthy food and drink options, and to make sure children get the energy and nutrition they need across the school day. The regulations restrict foods high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods.
Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the standards and should appropriately challenge the head teacher and school leaders to ensure the school is meeting its obligations. Departmental advice and guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-school-food-in-england, and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools/allergy-guidance-for-schools.
The provision of free school meals (FSM) to children who are eligible for them is of the utmost importance to this government. The greatest ever proportion of school children, over one third, are now provided with free school meals. Around 2 million pupils are claiming benefits-related FSM. In addition, almost 1.3 million infants are supported through the universal infant free school meal policy. Free meals are also available to disadvantaged young people in further education.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the numbers of food banks in schools; and what guidance they have issued to school governors regarding children having access to at least one nutritious meal a day.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government supports the provision of nutritious food in schools to enable pupils to be well nourished, develop healthy eating habits and to concentrate in school. The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 require schools to provide all children with healthy food and drink options, and to make sure children get the energy and nutrition they need across the school day. The regulations restrict foods high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods.
Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the standards and should appropriately challenge the head teacher and school leaders to ensure the school is meeting its obligations. Departmental advice and guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-school-food-in-england, and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools/allergy-guidance-for-schools.
The provision of free school meals (FSM) to children who are eligible for them is of the utmost importance to this government. The greatest ever proportion of school children, over one third, are now provided with free school meals. Around 2 million pupils are claiming benefits-related FSM. In addition, almost 1.3 million infants are supported through the universal infant free school meal policy. Free meals are also available to disadvantaged young people in further education.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of children in schools who are not in receipt of nutritious meals.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government supports the provision of nutritious food in schools to enable pupils to be well nourished, develop healthy eating habits and to concentrate in school. The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 require schools to provide all children with healthy food and drink options, and to make sure children get the energy and nutrition they need across the school day. The regulations restrict foods high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods.
Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance with the standards and should appropriately challenge the head teacher and school leaders to ensure the school is meeting its obligations. Departmental advice and guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-school-food-in-england, and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools/allergy-guidance-for-schools.
The provision of free school meals (FSM) to children who are eligible for them is of the utmost importance to this government. The greatest ever proportion of school children, over one third, are now provided with free school meals. Around 2 million pupils are claiming benefits-related FSM. In addition, almost 1.3 million infants are supported through the universal infant free school meal policy. Free meals are also available to disadvantaged young people in further education.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic and social impact of collaboration in scientific research between British and African universities and research institutes.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Scientific research collaborations between British and African research institutions make vital contributions to economic growth and the UK's wider development in Africa. Scientific collaborations are helping to overcome many of the most significant global challenges, from public health emergencies to climate change, to energy, education and more. HMG therefore invests in a wide range of UK-Africa scientific collaborations, including partnerships with the including the Science Foundation for Africa, the African Research Universities Alliance, and the Science Granting Councils Initiative.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of collaboration between British and African science-based institutions in delivering the UK's International Development Strategy.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Science and technology play a vital role in delivering the UK's International Development Strategy. HMG invests to strengthen equitable UK-Africa scientific collaborations and ensure the power of science delivers impactful and transformative change. The UK is a proud advocate for Open Science, deploying our world class expertise to drive open standards for critical and emerging technologies while protecting research security. That is why we invest in collaborations such as the UK-South Africa health partnership, through which UK and South Africa researchers save lives in the UK, South Africa and beyond - with research into vital issues from noncommunicable diseases, health systems and financing to mental health and surgery.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to be represented at the Association of African Universities biennial Conference of Rectors and Vice-Chancellors in Windhoek, Namibia, for the launch of the Charter Initiative to promote equitable partnerships for scientific research between African and British scientific institutions.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to strengthening UK-Africa equitable science and tech partnerships to deliver our mutual objectives and address global challenges. We work with leading African research networks and initiatives to drive this agenda forward, including the African Research Universities Alliance, the Science for Africa Foundation, and the African Science Granting Councils Initiative. Our dedicated science and tech teams on the continent are on hand to engage with all relevant stakeholders in pursuit of this common goal and will be exploring how we can work more closely with the Association of African Universities.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet with representatives of UK universities to discuss the potential of equitable collaboration between British and African research institutions in enhancing the impact of the UK Science and Innovation Network in Africa.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
HMG Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of UK universities to discuss the potential of equitable collaboration between British and African research institutions. As part of this, our Science and Innovation Network frequently engage with UK and African institutions to enhance equitable science partnerships. For example, HMG Science and Innovation officials were instrumental in supporting the signing of a hydrogen collaboration MoU between the universities of Stellenbosch and Teeside during the State visit to the UK, and HMG continues to fund bilateral research chairs in South Africa (SA), which has enhanced University relationships between UK/SA partners, including the Nelson Mandela University and the University of Southampton in Ocean Sciences. The Science and Innovation Network continues to act as a matchmaker between UK and African institutions exploring opportunities for collaboration in a broad range of disciplines.