Schools: Academies

Earl of Listowel Excerpts

Monday 27th October 2014 Lords Chamber

[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.

[The Earl of Listowel (CB)]

My Lords, is the Minister concerned to hear that a head teacher said at a recent seminar that she was having to pay rent arrears and pay for food in her impoverished community to enable children to get to school, to be able to concentrate and to do well? She was embarrassed to do this but she felt that she had to.

[Lord Nash]

Of course I am concerned about the point that the noble Earl makes. We have introduced universal free school meals particularly to enable pupils who come from the most disadvantaged backgrounds to be ready to learn when they arrive at school.