Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Charlie Elphicke Excerpts
Monday 25th June 2018

(5 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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The right hon. Gentleman is correct about the importance of the performing arts. In fact, the number of children taking a GCSE in arts subjects has not really moved very much, but we very much believe in a broad and balanced curriculum, with the breadth of opportunities he would want.

Charlie Elphicke Portrait Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Ind)
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In the funding of these opportunities, where an academy runs up a debt because of the Department’s failure to supervise the academy sponsor, does my right hon. Friend agree that the Department should take responsibility for that debt, rather than leave it with the school, as appears to be the case with the Goodwin Academy in my constituency?

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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Where it does become necessary to re-broker an academy, as it does on occasions—my hon. Friend and I have had an opportunity to meet to discuss this—there is a bespoke approach to make sure that the settlement for the new arrangement with the new trust is sustainable.