Free Schools (Funding)
Debate between Michael Gove and Nick de Bois(10 years, 6 months ago)
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Michael Gove
The hon. Gentleman makes a very good point. I read with interest and appreciation the article he wrote in The Independent on Sunday outlining a similar case, and I have asked officials in the Department to see what we can do to give effect to his suggestion. If he would like to come to the Department and share his thinking with officials, I shall be delighted to see what we can do to take this forward.
Nick de Bois (Enfield North) (Con)
In my constituency there are three free schools destined, of which two are open, offering 80 places, yet this is in an area in the top 10% of the country for childhood deprivation. I understand the Secretary of State has been accused, with results like this, of being an educational zealot. May I suggest he wears that as a badge of honour for the results he has produced for us in Enfield?
Michael Gove
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the point he makes. It is of course the case that there has been pressure on school places in Enfield. That is why we have been pleased to increase the amount we spend from £20 million under the last Government to £77 million under this Government. It is also why I am delighted that Patricia Sowter, an outstanding head teacher, has been able to increase the number of school places on top of that by expanding her wonderful chain of free schools. When the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Stephen Twigg) was shadow education spokesman, he paid tribute to Patricia Sowter for her fantastic work. I hope the current shadow spokesman will associate himself with those words.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Michael Gove and Nick de Bois(13 years ago)
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Nick de Bois (Enfield North) (Con)
12. What steps he is taking to tackle the shortage of primary school places in (a) Enfield North constituency and (b) England.
The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove)
Of the £1.3 billion available to fund additional school places in England, the London borough of Enfield’s share is just under £16 million.
Nick de Bois
Enfield council recently announced a strategy to cope with the increasing demand, but it gives no specific consideration or role to free schools. What advice can the Secretary of State give to those interested in setting up free schools who face this purely ideological barrier?