Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) safeguarding standards and (b) accountability are applied consistently across all types of schools.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This government remains committed to providing a clear and simple safeguarding framework for all schools. This is set out in our statutory safeguarding guidance, which all schools and colleges must have regard to. This guidance includes ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2, and ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’, accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2.
Schools are held to account for non-compliance with the statutory guidance in a number of ways, including through inspection, complaints and correspondence.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department ensures effective oversight where safeguarding concerns are raised about independent schools.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
All private schools are required to comply with the Independent School Standards (ISS), and schools that fail to meet the ISS at inspection are subject to regulatory action.
Information about regulatory and enforcement action can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulating-independent-schools. As part of meeting the standards all independent schools must have regard to statutory safeguarding guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of artificial intelligence usage in schools on safeguarding.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The department recognises that artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and risks in education and recognises public concerns around these risks. We are clear that technology is not effective unless it is safe. Our ‘Generative AI in education’ publication makes it clear that safety must be the top priority when taking decisions about use of generative AI in education.
We support schools through Digital and Technology Standards to help them to ensure appropriate filtering and monitoring systems are in place to keep children safe online and protect them from illegal, inappropriate or harmful content.
To drive the safety of AI in education, we have introduced Generative AI Product Safety Standards, which set clear expectations for AI tools used in education. These address risks including harmful or inappropriate content, privacy and data protection, and impacts on children’s cognitive, emotional and social development and mental health.
We are also supporting the sector through published AI support materials, which help staff use AI safely. We continue to build the evidence base to ensure AI is used safely and effectively.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to confirm Sports Premium funding for 2026-27.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for York Outer to the answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 115304.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that primary schools offer a broad range of after school clubs.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people across England can access a variety of enrichment opportunities at school, including after school clubs, as part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity. A new Enrichment Framework will be published this academic year. It will set out benchmarks to help schools and colleges plan high-quality enrichment more strategically, with case studies and signposting to tools and resources. The framework will support schools to provide accessible and inclusive enrichment opportunities to those less likely to participate, such as pupils on free school meals.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Student Loans Company is operationally effective.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure safeguarding standards and accountability are applied consistently across all types of schools.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department ensures effective oversight where safeguarding concerns are raised about independent schools.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of artificial intelligence usage in schools on safeguarding.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Luke Charters (Labour - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of improving access to the Longitudinal Education Outcomes dataset.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The department recognises the value of the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset in supporting high‑quality research and evidence‑based policymaking. LEO already underpins a wide range of official statistics and analytical publications, and independent researchers can access the underlying data securely through the Office for National Statistics Secure Research Service.
The department works with its partners to improve user experience, streamline access processes, and to expand support materials to assist third party use of LEO data.
A further five years of funding to develop LEO access has recently been confirmed for this purpose along with the largest ever increase of funding to the development of LEO.
Improvements must balance the potential merits with our obligations to safeguard personal data and the public’s trust. We keep arrangements for data access under regular review to ensure they remain proportionate, secure and in line with data protection requirements.