Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Evans of Rainow Excerpts

Monday 26th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gibb]

We take very seriously the performance of multi-academy trusts and the trustees’ oversight of academies, and the regional school commissioners will be looking at my hon. Friend’s case, as they do all issues of poor performance by academies within multi-academy trusts.

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

16. What steps the Government are taking to support young people with their mental health in schools.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Mr Sam Gyimah)]

Good mental health and attainment are different sides of the same coin, which is why the Secretary of State appointed me as the first Education Minister with responsibility for mental health in schools. We are taking a number of steps, working with partners, to improve the mental health of young people.

[Graham Evans]

Given that mental health conditions can be life-limiting for many young people in school, how are the Government ensuring that teachers have access to appropriate materials to teach pupils about mental health in an age-appropriate way so that we can break through this stigma?

[Mr Gyimah]

I am glad my hon. Friend has asked that question. We have been working with the PSHE Association to develop age-appropriate lesson plans, as well as improving counselling and guidance, so that teachers know how to teach about mental health and deal with the range of issues they come across in young people.