Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number of schools and places available in specialist provision for pupils with SEMH, broken down by local authority.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department collects and publishes the number of schools which have approved provision for types of special educational needs (SEN), including social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) need, through the school census. The data is published in the ’Special education needs in England publication 2025/26’, with the most recent published in June 2026, here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england/2025-26.
Data on places in SEN provision is collected in the School Capacity survey (SCAP). In the most recent release, May 2025, local authorities provided the capacity of special schools, plus SEN units and resourced provision in mainstream schools, as defined in the guidance of the publication. This includes post-16 capacity in secondary specialist provision, where appropriate, and does not include independent or alternative provision. Capacity reported in SCAP may not reflect the current pupils on roll in schools due to the different and changing needs for which the schools cater. As SCAP does not collect data by type of SEN, data in places specifically for pupils with SEMH is not held.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the annual cost to the Exchequer of extending eligibility for government-backed student finance to standalone commercial pilot training courses leading to Civil Aviation Authority commercial pilot qualifications; and what further estimate she has made of the resulting (a) annual student loan outlay, (b) long-term resource accounting and budgeting (RAB) cost and (c) number of additional students supported.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Student finance is designed to support higher education study leading to an academic award. Eligible students can apply for student finance for the academic elements of designated pilot training degree programmes.
Courses designated for student finance are set out in the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011. Generally, providers offering designated courses must be registered with the Office for Students (OfS) and, for most designated courses, hold degree-awarding powers.
There are no plans to extend student finance to cover standalone commercial pilot training courses that do not meet the standard eligibility criteria, so the department has not assessed the costs of doing so.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to hold discussions with Vice Chancellors on the effectiveness of disciplinary procedures in tackling antisemitism at universities.
Answered by Janet Daby
Last month, my right hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, brought together Vice Chancellors and community leaders to hear testimonials from Jewish students and to discuss next steps to ensure safer, more inclusive campuses for all. This included productive discussion of how students’ confidence in the disciplinary processes could be improved, while ensuring that confidentiality requirements continue to be met.
The department remains deeply committed to working with universities, sector partners and stakeholder groups to effectively tackle the unacceptably high level of antisemitism on our campuses.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference pages 19-20 of StandWithUs' report entitled StandWithUs UK Report: Voice of Students 2024/25 Report, published in May 2025, if she will have discussions with the Vice Chancellor of Brunel University of London on (a) reported comments made to a Jewish student at that University and (b) that University's subsequent actions in response.
Answered by Janet Daby
This government condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms and we are actively taking steps to prevent and tackle it on campus, as in all parts of society. The antisemitic incidents detailed in StandWithUs UK’s report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of our Jewish students remains a priority.
Universities have a duty to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law, but the department has been clear that this does not extend to unlawful hate speech or incitement of hatred against any individual or group.
It is important to recognise the efforts that university Vice Chancellors and their staff are making to foster cohesion on campuses across the country. However, as the StandWithUs UK report highlights, there is still more for us to do. That is why my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education is hosting a roundtable on antisemitism to which she has invited several leading Vice Chancellors, many whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials, including Professor Andrew Jones, Vice Chancellor of Brunel, University of London. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to hold discussions with university vice-chancellors in relation to the report by StandWithUs UK entitled Voice of Students 2024-25, published on 7 May 2025.
Answered by Janet Daby
This government condemns antisemitism in the strongest possible terms and we are actively taking steps to prevent and tackle it on campus, as in all parts of society. The antisemitic incidents detailed in StandWithUs UK’s report are wholly unacceptable and the wellbeing and safety of our Jewish students remains a priority.
Universities have a duty to protect freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law, but the department has been clear that this does not extend to unlawful hate speech or incitement of hatred against any individual or group.
It is important to recognise the efforts that university Vice Chancellors and their staff are making to foster cohesion on campuses across the country. However, as the StandWithUs UK report highlights, there is still more for us to do. That is why my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education is hosting a roundtable on antisemitism to which she has invited several leading Vice Chancellors, many whose students and universities are featured in StandWithUs UK’s testimonials, including Professor Andrew Jones, Vice Chancellor of Brunel, University of London. This will be an opportunity to discuss what more can be done collectively, and at all levels, to make our universities a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the governance arrangements of the National Foundation for Educational Research.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The National Foundation for Educational Research is a leading provider of research and assessments in the UK. The department has no formal oversight or management relationship with them, and as such, has not made an assessment of the adequacy of their governance arrangements.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on academies.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
This government’s mission is clear: to break down barriers to opportunity by driving high and rising standards delivered through excellent teaching and leadership, a high-quality curriculum, and a system which removes the barriers to learning that hold too many children back. All underpinned by strong and clear accountability.
This is why we introduced the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, to give every family the certainty that they will be able to access a good local school for their child, where they can achieve and thrive, regardless of where they live.
Through this Bill, we are creating a floor for all schools but placing no ceiling on what they can achieve, enabling healthy competition and innovation beyond a core framework to improve all schools.
The department published updated impact assessments on the Bill’s measures on 21 March on GOV.UK. These include assessments of the impact on all types of school, including academies. It is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.
Where measures are in scope, assessments follow the Better Regulation Framework, and we have received a ‘Green’ rating from the Regulatory Policy Committee.
The department will continue to develop the Impact Assessments throughout the passage of the bill and undertake post-implementation reviews.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to help deliver a new SEND school in Buckinghamshire.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and giving every child the best start in life. Applications to run a special free school in Buckinghamshire have closed. The department is working through next steps and will provide an update in due course.
The government is clear it wants to make sure all children with special educational needs and disabilities receive the support they need to achieve and thrive. That is why the manifesto set out a clear ambition to improve inclusivity in mainstream schools, while ensuring that special schools cater for those with the most complex needs.
As with all government investment, special free school projects will be subject to value for money consideration through their development, in line with the government’s vision for the special educational needs system.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many exclusions from school (a) in total and (b) of pupils with SEN occurred in Buckingham constituency in each of the last five years.
Answered by Will Quince
The data on requests and issuing of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) are not collected by parliamentary constituency, or by who the requestor is for the plan. The answer provided is based on all requests made to the Buckinghamshire local authority. The number of requests received, and plans issued by Buckinghamshire local authority, are detailed below.
Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
Requests for EHCP | 680 | 658 | 888 | 940 | 940 |
New EHCPs issued | 447 | 300 | 628 | 674 | 592 |
The tables below show the number of permanent exclusions and suspensions for pupils with and without special educational needs (SEN) in Buckingham constituency between the 2015/16 and 2019/20 academic years.
Permanent Exclusions
Academic year | All pupils | Pupils without SEN | SEN with EHCP or statement | SEN without EHCP or statement |
2019/20 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
2018/19 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
2017/18 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
2016/17 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
2015/16 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
Suspensions
Academic year | All pupils | Pupils without SEN | SEN with EHCP or statement | SEN without EHCP or statement |
2019/20 | 503 | 261 | 98 | 144 |
2018/19 | 696 | 330 | 115 | 251 |
2017/18 | 423 | 146 | 64 | 213 |
2016/17 | 457 | 234 | 67 | 156 |
2015/16 | 283 | 133 | 53 | 97 |
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many requests for education, health and care plans were (a) requested by parents and (b) signed off by Buckinghamshire Council for students in the Buckingham constituency in each of the last five years.
Answered by Will Quince
The data on requests and issuing of education, health and care plans (EHCPs) are not collected by parliamentary constituency, or by who the requestor is for the plan. The answer provided is based on all requests made to the Buckinghamshire local authority. The number of requests received, and plans issued by Buckinghamshire local authority, are detailed below.
Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
Requests for EHCP | 680 | 658 | 888 | 940 | 940 |
New EHCPs issued | 447 | 300 | 628 | 674 | 592 |
The tables below show the number of permanent exclusions and suspensions for pupils with and without special educational needs (SEN) in Buckingham constituency between the 2015/16 and 2019/20 academic years.
Permanent Exclusions
Academic year | All pupils | Pupils without SEN | SEN with EHCP or statement | SEN without EHCP or statement |
2019/20 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
2018/19 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
2017/18 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
2016/17 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
2015/16 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
Suspensions
Academic year | All pupils | Pupils without SEN | SEN with EHCP or statement | SEN without EHCP or statement |
2019/20 | 503 | 261 | 98 | 144 |
2018/19 | 696 | 330 | 115 | 251 |
2017/18 | 423 | 146 | 64 | 213 |
2016/17 | 457 | 234 | 67 | 156 |
2015/16 | 283 | 133 | 53 | 97 |