Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Thursday 23rd May 2024 Commons Chamber

The hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

9. What steps the Church of England is taking to increase the number of academy schools it sponsors.

[The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Andrew Selous)]

The Church of England is already the biggest provider of academies in England, with 1,770 academies and 280 multi-academy trusts. Each diocese across England will have its own academisation plans. These schools include pupils of all faiths and none, and they are committed to serving the whole community.

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

There is a growing need for special education, particularly in the New Forest. What can the Church do to assist in my constituency?

[Andrew Selous]

I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend, who has had a long-standing interest in these and other Church matters. He is right in what he says because, with two thirds of special schools at or over capacity, the recent decision to allow faith education providers to run special schools will enable the Church of England to alleviate some of those pressures and give families more choice and opportunity in the New Forest as well as across the whole of England. I would say that our strong ethos of community care makes our schools well suited to providing a nurturing environment for all children with special educational needs.