Schools: Faith Schools and Free Schools

Debate between Lord Singh of Wimbledon and Lord Nash

Wednesday 28th January 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

All free schools have oversubscription criteria of 50%. All schools must be inclusive and respect the rights and needs of other faiths or people with no faith.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as the director of the network of Sikh organisations responsible for the inspection of Sikh faith schools. The teaching of gender equality and respect for other faiths is obligatory in Sikh faith schools. Does the Minister agree that any school that fails to do that should be treated as a failing school?

[Lord Nash]

I agree entirely with the noble Lord. I have visited a number of Sikh schools and have been extremely impressed with the education that they provide, which is not surprising given the ethics and ethos of community and service in Sikhism.

Schools: Academies

Debate between Lord Singh of Wimbledon and Lord Nash

Monday 27th October 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

My noble friend is quite right that there have been many examples of this, including more efficient purchasing, longer school days, greater freedom over the curriculum, the ability to employ subject-specific teachers in primary schools, the ability to find the money to engage more effectively with the professional communities and business, and the generation of income more effectively from their own facilities.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)]

My Lords, while rigorous financial regulation is important, I am alarmed to hear of a high-achieving school in a deprived area in west London where children are made to endure classroom sizes of up to 80 without adequate toilet facilities. The DfE will not release money for new premises until the financial management is completely up to scratch. Does the Minister agree that it is wrong to use children in this way?

[Lord Nash]

I do not recognise the example to which the noble Lord refers. I would be grateful if he would write to me as regards his specific example. The pressure on pupil places has been considerably relieved by the amount of money that this Government have spent on them, but I would be particularly interested to hear about this case.

Education: Citizenship Studies

Debate between Lord Singh of Wimbledon and Lord Nash

Monday 30th June 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

They are supposed to include democracy, the electoral system, government, human rights and international law.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)]

My Lords, citizenship generally suggests teaching conforming behaviour, which is important. However, does the Minister agree that the teaching of conforming behaviour is not quite the same and needs to include the teaching of ethical values of right, wrong and responsibility, which can sometimes— and sometimes should—challenge conforming behaviour?

Schools: British Values

Debate between Lord Singh of Wimbledon and Lord Nash

Thursday 12th June 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

It does not seem to us to be satisfactory to ask a school merely to teach about British values if it does not also teach the importance and primacy of them and promote them. It is not satisfactory to teach about British values and then have a separate lesson that teaches that other values are more important. This will be inspected by Ofsted, within some clear frameworks, by Ofsted inspectors trained to do so. The governors’ handbook will reflect this, as will our guidance on the equality Act.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)]

My Lords, in considering such values, will the Minister take into account a list of British values drawn up by faith leaders at the turn of the millennium, to which all faiths agreed to subscribe?

[Lord Nash]

The noble Lord makes a very good point, and I will take that away.