Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Amess and Elizabeth Truss

Thursday 17th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and I will look into that issue.

[Sir David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

T6. Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating Southend on the initiative of welcoming ambassadors from countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, the Maldives and India to boost trade once we leave the European Union?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Amess and Elizabeth Truss

Monday 9th September 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

6. What assessment he has made of the 2013 GCSE results in the south Essex area.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Elizabeth Truss)]

There have been some very good results at GCSE in south Essex. In common with the rest of the country, we have seen a big rise in the number of students doing core academic subjects, thanks to the English baccalaureate. We have seen a 16% rise in modern languages and a record number of girls taking chemistry and physics as GCSEs.

[Mr Amess]

So will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating Belfairs academy in my constituency on a staggering 21% increase in the number of pupils obtaining more than five A* to C grades and a 23% increase overall? Will she congratulate all Southend West schools on their wonderful results, which underline why Southend should have been named city of culture 2017?

[Elizabeth Truss]

I congratulate the students and teachers at the school, and across Southend, on their excellent results. I hope that some of those students will be the upwardly mobile political giants that my hon. Friend wants in the House of Commons in future.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Amess and Elizabeth Truss

Monday 3rd December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

The timetable is imminent.

[Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to improve discipline in schools.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Elizabeth Truss)]

We are taking decisive action to equip teachers to restore discipline in schools. No longer can a decision to exclude pupils be undermined by an appeal panel against the best interests of a school and other students in it. We are also strengthening the law so that teachers can issue same-day detentions.

[Mr Amess]

What steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that head teachers are able to exclude pupils whose behaviour becomes unacceptable, and what help is then given to those pupils?

[Elizabeth Truss]

We are making sure that the ultimate decision on exclusion is made by a school governing body. Under the previous Government, appeals panels had the final say and 810 permanently excluded pupils were reinstated in schools between 2002 and 2010. We are encouraging schools to take an interest in the long-term education of those students who are excluded and we are trialling approaches so that they take an interest.