Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what research they have conducted on school twinning programmes and their progress in improving community cohesion and religious understanding.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
We want children and young people to have a greater awareness and experience of meeting those from backgrounds different to their own.
The Department for Education and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are jointly providing funding of over £700,000 for a programme run by the Schools Linking Network. The programme provides sustained opportunities for children and young people from different communities to meet, build new relationships, work together and contribute to the wider community.
This follows the National Foundation for Educational Research report published by the department in 2011 (attached) which showed that schools linking can have a positive impact on many aspects of pupils’ skills, attitudes, perceptions and behaviours.
An evaluation strategy for the current programme is in place and we will ensure we learn from its results to develop our approach to school linking.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of church schools to community cohesion.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Church schools are an important part of our diverse education system, play a key role in their local communities and many have mixed intakes. The 2017 School Census shows that in secondary Church of England and Catholic state-funded schools 32.4% and 37.6% of pupils are from non-White ethnic backgrounds, respectively. This is compared to 29.2% in non-faith schools. In primary Church of England and Catholic state-funded schools 22.1% and 39.8% of pupils are from non-white ethnic backgrounds respectively, compared to 34.7% in non-faith schools. There are good examples of church schools participating in linking activities with schools from different faiths or no faith. We aim to work closely with the religious bodies, which oversee church schools to build on their excellent work so far.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what strategies are in place to improve access for Gypsy, Traveller and Roma young people to (1) further education, (2) higher education, and (3) apprenticeships.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Children from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are able to take advantage of early years education provision. Since 2013, over half a million of the country’s most disadvantaged two year olds, including those from Gypsy Roma and Traveller populations, have benefitted from 15 hours of free early education a week, and can continue this early education with 15 hours of free early education at ages 3 and 4. In the recently published strategy ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’ a copy of which is available in the Library of the House of Lords, an ambition was laid out to close the word gap backed by over £100 million of investment. Once a child is at school the Pupil Premium is provided, an additional funding provision that continues with nearly £2.5 billion this year alone, to help schools improve the progress and attainment of their disadvantaged pupils. High proportions of Gypsy Roma and Traveller pupils are eligible for and benefit from this support.
The department also provides a number of financial support programmes for economically disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds to help with the costs associated with staying in post 16 education such as travel and course equipment.
The department is taking action to ensure that high quality apprenticeships are accessible to all. The Apprenticeships Diversity Champions Network and recently launched partnership with five major cities in England, aim to drive up apprenticeships among underrepresented groups.
In Higher Education, providers will now be required to publish application data broken down by ethnicity and those charging higher fees will be required to agree Access and Participation Plans. The plans will set out measures to support the access and successful participation for disadvantaged and under-represented groups, including those from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
In January 2018 the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller stakeholder group was established to inform policy development to raise the attainment and participation of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils at all stages of education. In March 2018 a review of exclusions was launched, exploring why certain pupil groups, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils, are over-represented in exclusions statistics. The department continues to collaborate with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on their 2018-19 pilot programme to improve the social integration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. In addition as part of the Careers Strategy, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller youth will be included as a target group for a pilot testing ways of providing guidance on routes into careers to vulnerable groups.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what strategies are in place to improve school attainment performance of Gypsy, Traveller and Roma pupils from early years onwards.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Children from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are able to take advantage of early years education provision. Since 2013, over half a million of the country’s most disadvantaged two year olds, including those from Gypsy Roma and Traveller populations, have benefitted from 15 hours of free early education a week, and can continue this early education with 15 hours of free early education at ages 3 and 4. In the recently published strategy ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’ a copy of which is available in the Library of the House of Lords, an ambition was laid out to close the word gap backed by over £100 million of investment. Once a child is at school the Pupil Premium is provided, an additional funding provision that continues with nearly £2.5 billion this year alone, to help schools improve the progress and attainment of their disadvantaged pupils. High proportions of Gypsy Roma and Traveller pupils are eligible for and benefit from this support.
The department also provides a number of financial support programmes for economically disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds to help with the costs associated with staying in post 16 education such as travel and course equipment.
The department is taking action to ensure that high quality apprenticeships are accessible to all. The Apprenticeships Diversity Champions Network and recently launched partnership with five major cities in England, aim to drive up apprenticeships among underrepresented groups.
In Higher Education, providers will now be required to publish application data broken down by ethnicity and those charging higher fees will be required to agree Access and Participation Plans. The plans will set out measures to support the access and successful participation for disadvantaged and under-represented groups, including those from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
In January 2018 the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller stakeholder group was established to inform policy development to raise the attainment and participation of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils at all stages of education. In March 2018 a review of exclusions was launched, exploring why certain pupil groups, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils, are over-represented in exclusions statistics. The department continues to collaborate with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government on their 2018-19 pilot programme to improve the social integration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. In addition as part of the Careers Strategy, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller youth will be included as a target group for a pilot testing ways of providing guidance on routes into careers to vulnerable groups.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information, if any, they hold on the (1) ethnicity, and (2) religious beliefs, of school governors in England.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The information requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with church representatives regarding a new model church supplemental agreement by denomination.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The department keeps model documentation used by academy trusts under review and this includes the Church Supplemental Agreement. Department for Education ministers and officials meet with representatives of the Church of England and Catholic Church on a regular basis and discuss a range of topics including the Church Supplemental Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to agreeing a new model church supplemental agreement.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The department keeps model documentation used by academy trusts under review and this includes the Church Supplemental Agreement. Department for Education ministers and officials meet with representatives of the Church of England and Catholic Church on a regular basis and discuss a range of topics including the Church Supplemental Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to publish their response to the submissions received through their consultation, Schools that work for everyone.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The department plans to respond on the consultation, ‘Schools that work for everyone’, in due course.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the removal of the 50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions on the ability of the Catholic Church to open new schools.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The proposal to remove the 50% cap on faith admissions in faith free schools is set out in the ‘Schools that work for everyone’ consultation document (copies available in the House Library). The department plans to respond on this consultation in due course.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the regional demand from parents for places in Catholic schools; and how the removal of the 50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions will meet that demand.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The proposal to remove the 50% cap on faith admissions in faith free schools is set out in the ‘Schools that work for everyone’ consultation document (copies available in the House Library). The department plans to respond on this consultation in due course.