School Building Closures Debate

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Department: Department for Education

School Building Closures

Mary Kelly Foy Excerpts
Tuesday 19th September 2023

(7 months, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gillian Keegan Portrait Gillian Keegan
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I think the fire chiefs usually work with local responsible bodies to find out how they can minimise fire risks within a local area.

Mary Kelly Foy Portrait Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) (Lab)
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If I may, Mr Speaker, I will put four questions to the Secretary of State, because the pupils, parents and staff of St Leonard’s Catholic School deserve answers. First, can we confirm that the planned rebuild of St Leonard’s will now be accelerated? Secondly, when will the venues for rehoming St Leonard’s be confirmed and the finances approved? Thirdly, what additional financial and practical provisions will be in place for the most vulnerable pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities and those receiving free school meals? Fourthly, what options for special consideration will exam boards apply to year 11 and year 13 students this year?

Gillian Keegan Portrait Gillian Keegan
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I am delighted that St Leonard’s now has a mix of face-to-face and remote learning—it has done a fantastic job to enable that, working with local partners. On school rebuilding, we are making those decisions with the project directors we have on site at St Leonard’s. We will consider first the short-term and medium-term mitigations, and then when we should do the rebuilding. We have an MPs surgery later for anybody in the House to raise specific cases that they are interested in; I shall be there with my Ministers and officials, and we are happy to go into detail on any case and give Members the latest. It is still an evolving situation, but we will be there and will support St Leonard’s as much as possible to ensure that children are safely educated there.