Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Laws

Monday 11th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Laws]

I certainly agree with the right hon. Gentleman. The challenge is to ensure not only that we expand entitlement right across the country by September 2014, but that the meals are healthy and are delivered effectively in every single school. We shall ensure that we do that exactly as set out in the school food plan published a few months ago.

[Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)]

6. What assessment he has made of the potential role of massive open online courses in schools.

Education

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Laws

Wednesday 26th June 2013 Ministerial Corrections

[Andrew Selous]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to achieve gender balance in teaching in primary and lower schools.

[Official Report, 20 June 2013, Vol. 564, c. 797-98W.]

Letter of correction from David Laws:

An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) on 20 June 2013.

The full answer given was as follows:

[Mr Laws]

The Government has made it clear that it would like to see the proportion of male trainees growing over time. The most recent Initial Teacher training (ITT) census in November 2012 showed a record number and percentage of male graduates entering ITT.

The proportion of qualified male teaching staff in nursery and primary (including lower) education increased from 16% to 19% between 2010 and 2011. Workforce figures for 2012 are not yet available.

In July 2012 the Teaching Agency (TA) launched the Primary Experience Programme, which allowed male graduates interested in primary teacher training to have 10 days’ work experience in a school. 1,000 places have been made available in schools across the country and the programme’s impact is currently being assessed by the National College for Teaching and Leadership.

The TA also regularly puts male graduates in touch with a range of inspirational male primary teachers, to get an insight into teachers' motivations, career choices, challenges and the rewards of day-to-day life in a classroom.

The correct answer should have been:

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Selous and David Laws

Monday 22nd April 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Laws]

I can confirm exactly that. I can confirm also that we would not have had to find that amount of capital had the Labour party not ignored the advice of the Office for National Statistics in 2003-04 about future trends in primary numbers.

[Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)]

14. How head teachers of academies can be removed if their schools fail to make the progress that can reasonably be expected.