Schools: British Values

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Campbell-Savours

Thursday 12th June 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I think we will all reflect deeply on the events in Birmingham. I am also sure that all noble Lords will study Peter Clarke’s report when it comes out. We will then decide what other actions should be taken. As for flying the flag, I think it is a matter of individual choice and for individual schools to decide.

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab)]

The Minister referred in the first part of his Answer to the word “encourage”. Then he said that the new position will be “will have to promote”. What does he mean by “will have to promote”?

[Lord Nash]

It does not seem to us to be satisfactory to ask a school merely to teach about British values if it does not also teach the importance and primacy of them and promote them. It is not satisfactory to teach about British values and then have a separate lesson that teaches that other values are more important. This will be inspected by Ofsted, within some clear frameworks, by Ofsted inspectors trained to do so. The governors’ handbook will reflect this, as will our guidance on the equality Act.

Schools: Independent Schools

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Campbell-Savours

Thursday 16th January 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

There are plenty of schemes, such as the Buttle UK springboard, which encourage pupils to go to independent schools. Even if we got a third of independent school places occupied by poorer pupils, we would still be dealing with only 2% of the population. We believe that our money is better spent trying to improve the educational chances of the majority of children.

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab)]

My Lords, where do the figures that the noble Lord referred to come from? On what basis was the valuation made, and what was it of?

[Lord Nash]

They come from the subsidy that independent schools give on fees that would otherwise be paid by parents, which they find from their own resources or from charitable raising activities.

Childcare Ratios

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Campbell-Savours

Thursday 9th May 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

We have had more than 1,000 replies to the consultation and will examine them all closely.

[Lord Campbell-Savours]

My Lords, what evidence is there that the cost of childcare will drop? What assumptions are the Government making about the cost of childcare?

[Lord Nash]

As I said earlier, we are driven by a desire for better quality. A third of our children enter primary school without adequate communication and language skills despite a 96% take-up of early-years provision. We are driven by a desire to improve quality, not to save money.

[Lord Campbell-Savours]

Will prices drop?

[Lord Nash]

They will drop if nurseries are able to employ staff on ratios which enable them to operate more efficiently. There are providers in France who provide higher-quality childcare at more affordable rates because they are able to offer these flexible staffing ratios. More efficient providers may well be able to produce cheaper prices.