Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has assessed the effectiveness of the academy trust governance framework in ensuring that community and family engagement is prioritised by academy trusts.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Academy trusts should have reserved places for parents, carers or other individuals with parental responsibility within their governance structure. Single academy trusts should have at least two such places on the trust board. Multi-academy trusts should have at least two such places on the board or on each local committee, where they are established. Trusts should hold elections to fill these places as appropriate.
The department has not issued guidance allowing for the removal of parents from trust governance arrangements where a school is underperforming. Trusts are expected to maintain the governance arrangements that are set out in their articles of association, funding agreement and the Academy Trust Handbook.
Expectations for high-quality governance are set out in the Trust Quality Descriptions, which identify effective engagement with parents, carers and local communities as a feature of high-quality trusts. These expectations will be renewed through new Trust Standards. In addition, the department has committed to publishing minimum expectations on parental engagement for schools, which trust boards will oversee.
As set out in the Schools White Paper, the government intends to consult on requiring academy trusts to have local governance structures covering all their schools, helping to ensure that trust boards hear directly from parents and school communities. We will also be introducing Ofsted inspection of trusts.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has issued guidance on the length of time parental representation can be excluded within academy trusts where a school is underperforming.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Academy trusts should have reserved places for parents, carers or other individuals with parental responsibility within their governance structure. Single academy trusts should have at least two such places on the trust board. Multi-academy trusts should have at least two such places on the board or on each local committee, where they are established. Trusts should hold elections to fill these places as appropriate.
The department has not issued guidance allowing for the removal of parents from trust governance arrangements where a school is underperforming. Trusts are expected to maintain the governance arrangements that are set out in their articles of association, funding agreement and the Academy Trust Handbook.
Expectations for high-quality governance are set out in the Trust Quality Descriptions, which identify effective engagement with parents, carers and local communities as a feature of high-quality trusts. These expectations will be renewed through new Trust Standards. In addition, the department has committed to publishing minimum expectations on parental engagement for schools, which trust boards will oversee.
As set out in the Schools White Paper, the government intends to consult on requiring academy trusts to have local governance structures covering all their schools, helping to ensure that trust boards hear directly from parents and school communities. We will also be introducing Ofsted inspection of trusts.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of parental representation and involvement in governance arrangements within academy trusts.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Academy trusts should have reserved places for parents, carers or other individuals with parental responsibility within their governance structure. Single academy trusts should have at least two such places on the trust board. Multi-academy trusts should have at least two such places on the board or on each local committee, where they are established. Trusts should hold elections to fill these places as appropriate.
The department has not issued guidance allowing for the removal of parents from trust governance arrangements where a school is underperforming. Trusts are expected to maintain the governance arrangements that are set out in their articles of association, funding agreement and the Academy Trust Handbook.
Expectations for high-quality governance are set out in the Trust Quality Descriptions, which identify effective engagement with parents, carers and local communities as a feature of high-quality trusts. These expectations will be renewed through new Trust Standards. In addition, the department has committed to publishing minimum expectations on parental engagement for schools, which trust boards will oversee.
As set out in the Schools White Paper, the government intends to consult on requiring academy trusts to have local governance structures covering all their schools, helping to ensure that trust boards hear directly from parents and school communities. We will also be introducing Ofsted inspection of trusts.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress she has made on responding to the recommendations of the Law Commission's review of disabled children's social care.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
In line with the protocol agreed between the Lord Chancellor and the Law Commission, the department provided an initial response to these recommendations within six months of publication. This will be followed by a full response within 12 months, which will set out how government will address the issues raised by the Law Commission.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department provides to universities seeking to deliver antisemitism awareness training and initiatives that celebrate Jewish life on campus.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is supporting the sector to tackle antisemitism and ensure Jewish students can participate fully in university life.
We have committed £7 million to the Tackling Antisemitism in Education programme, which includes support for universities to improve understanding of antisemitism, respond effectively to incidents, and strengthen policies and procedures that promote respect and tolerance.
As part of this programme, the Union of Jewish Students has been appointed to deliver training and resources for universities between 2025 and 2028. Palace Yard will also be commencing a scholarship programme, to include university staff, in the autumn.
The department has also provided £500,000 to University Jewish Chaplaincy to strengthen welfare support for Jewish students.
We expect higher education providers to foster environments in which Jewish students feel safe, welcome and able to celebrate Jewish life on campus, free from discrimination and harassment.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of information-sharing arrangements between universities, police forces and relevant Government agencies in tackling antisemitism.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is clear that antisemitism has no place in higher education (HE).
While the department has not made a formal assessment of the effectiveness of information-sharing arrangements between universities, police forces and government agencies, we are working closely with partners across government and the sector to keep these arrangements under review.
The department is currently exploring opportunities with the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to strengthen local intelligence-sharing and joint working between universities, police forces, Prevent teams and MHCLG area coordinators. This is intended to support earlier identification of risks, improve coordination between partners, and ensure incidents of antisemitism are responded to effectively.
We will continue to work across government, the HE sector and community stakeholders to ensure robust measures are in place to tackle antisemitism and support affected students and staff.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to add additional regulatory requirements for students’ unions in relation to tackling extremism and hate incidents on campus.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is clear that all students should be able to study in an environment that is safe and free from harassment and intimidation.
The department is strengthening protections for students and staff from extremism and intimidation on campus through measures announced in March 2026, including enhanced monitoring of providers’ Prevent responsibilities by the Office for Students (OfS) and shortly providing updated guidance on managing speakers and events.
The department will continue to work with the higher education sector and the OfS to ensure campuses remain places of open debate and academic freedom, while taking robust action against unlawful hate and extremist activity.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing enforceable minimum standards for universities’ investigation of hate crime incidents.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous institutions and are responsible for investigating incidents that occur within their communities. The government expects providers to have effective procedures in place to prevent and respond to hate crime, harassment and discrimination.
The department has not made an assessment of the merits of introducing enforceable minimum standards specifically for universities’ investigation of hate crime incidents. Providers are already subject to a range of legal and regulatory requirements, including duties under the Equality Act 2010, while the Office for Students (OfS) regulates registered providers in England and monitors compliance with its conditions of registration.
The government will continue to work with the HE sector and the OfS to help ensure that students can study in an environment that is safe, inclusive and free from harassment, hatred and discrimination.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to require universities to report incidents of antisemitism and other hate crimes to the Office for Students.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is clear that antisemitism has no place in higher education (HE).
HE providers are autonomous institutions and are responsible for preventing and responding to harassment, hate crime and discrimination. The Office for Students (OfS), as the independent regulator for HE in England, monitors compliance with regulatory requirements.
Universities should maintain clear policies and disciplinary procedures to address antisemitism. On 5 May, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, called on universities to demonstrate the action they are taking to tackle antisemitism on campus. Institutions are now expected to publish information on levels of antisemitism and the steps taken to address incidents.
Providers should continue to record incidents appropriately, support those affected and refer potential criminal offences to the police where necessary.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Charity Commission on oversight of students’ unions’ compliance with their legal duties.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Students’ unions that are registered charities are regulated by the Charity Commission and are required to comply with charity law and fulfil their legal duties as trustees.
The department engages regularly with regulators and sector bodies on matters affecting higher education providers and students. In May, department officials met with representatives of the Charity Commission to discuss approaches to the regulation of students’ unions. The meeting provided an opportunity for both organisations to share information on their respective roles, powers and responsibilities.
The department and the Charity Commission will continue to engage, as appropriate, on matters relating to the regulation and oversight of students’ unions.