Oral Answers to Questions

Lincoln Jopp Excerpts

Wednesday 18th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dame Nia Griffith]

There was a real range of questions there. We are bringing forward legislation that affects England and Wales, but I can assure the hon. Member that we are in talks with officials in the Scottish Parliament on that very issue. I also assure her that we will be bringing this legislation forward very soon, and that there will be a proper opportunity for that pre-legislative scrutiny, which I know she will want to take part in.

[Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) (Con)]

2. Whether she plans to take steps with Cabinet colleagues to develop a strategy to improve educational outcomes for boys.

[Dr Luke Evans (Hinckley and Bosworth) (Con)]

9. Whether she plans to take steps with Cabinet colleagues to develop a strategy to improve educational outcomes for boys.

[The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)]

Attainment for boys is, on average, lower than for girls. This Government are determined to understand and address the drivers behind that. We are focused on driving educational excellence everywhere, for every child in every school, and my schools White Paper in the autumn will set out our vision for a system that delivers on excellence for everyone.

[Lincoln Jopp]

Recent research by the Centre for Social Justice showed that at key stage 1, key stage 2, GCSEs, A-levels and T-levels, boys are underperforming girls. We simply cannot allow half a generation not to be allowed to reach their full potential. As part of her approach, will the Secretary of State consider looking at whether boys might need to be taught somewhat differently from girls?

[Bridget Phillipson]

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s interest in this area and the constructive way in which he is approaching an important topic. I, too, have looked at the research from the Centre for Social Justice, which provides some important pointers. Through the schools White Paper, we will consider all the ways we can better support boys and young men as one group. We know that the performance of free school meals-eligible white British boys is particularly low; that is something we inherited from the Conservatives.