Oral Answers to Questions

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Monday 21st June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Ansell [V]]

Early feedback from my local school leaders suggests that tutoring is going to make a real difference, but there is some small concern that it can come with an opportunity cost in the school day, potentially affecting pupils’ experience of a broad and balanced curriculum, especially the creative arts and sports. Is that therefore an important consideration in the debate about having a longer school day, especially if tutoring could prove to be the longer-term strategy that we need to address the pre-pandemic attainment gap?

[Mr Speaker]

Secretary of State, will you please pick up the first part of the question?

[Gavin Williamson]

My hon. Friend raises an important issue. As we bring forward the largest investment in tutoring that this country has ever seen, we want to look at how we can continue to make changes and improvements to the whole of the school day. That way, we can not only embed the tutoring revolution that we are driving forward but ensure that the other areas of enrichment that are so important for a child’s development are properly incorporated into any changes.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Let us go to the Chair of the Education Committee, Robert Halfon.

[Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con) [V]]

Even before the pandemic, persistent absence—pupils missing 10% or more of their education—was alarmingly high, at 13.1%. As pupils have returned, the overall rate has remained stubbornly high at 13%, or at around 916,000 pupils. For secondary pupils, it has actually risen from 15% to 16.3%. What are the Department’s plans to bring persistent absence down?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Speaker]

Does the Secretary of State want to come back?

[Gavin Williamson]

Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. To be absolutely clear, we aim to roll out tutoring for 6 million pupils across the country.

[Mr Speaker]

Right. That has gone on the record.

I now suspend the House for three minutes to enable the necessary arrangements for the next business to be made.