Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of 18-year-olds have taken (a) three or (b) more A-levels in (i) Bolsover constituency, (ii) Derbyshire and (iii) England in each of the last five academic years.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The attached table shows the number and proportion of students entering at least three A levels in England, the Bolsover constituency and the Derbyshire local authority over the past five academic years, broken down by the number of A level entries.
There were zero A level students in the Bolsover constituency in the years in question.
Data is based on students attending schools and colleges located in each geographic area who have reached the end of 16-18 study.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of key stage four students who completed their GCSEs went on to each destination in (a) Bolsover, (b) Derbyshire and (c) England in each of the last five academic years for which data is available.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The department publishes information on the percentage of pupils continuing to a sustained education, apprenticeship or employment destination in England in the year after completing key stage 4 study (after year 11) from state-funded mainstream schools.
The data in the links below contain the data requested.
Derbyshire: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/d0be6793-1dd3-41a7-800e-08dd45163c72.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of parliamentary constituencies in England do not have sixth form provision within their constituency boundaries.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Information on each educational establishment in England is available on the Get Information About Schools service, which is available here: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/. In particular, the establishment fields download indicates which establishments have a sixth form and the parliamentary constituency they are in, available here: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Downloads.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure all children who require a special school place are provided with one in Derbyshire.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
In 2023, the department collected data from local authorities on available capacity in special schools, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) units and resourced provision for the first time. The capacity data tells us approximately how many places local authorities think were available on 1 May 2023. In Derbyshire, there were approximately 1150 special school places.
The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including for pupils with SEND, sits with local authorities. The department supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with SEND through annual high needs capital funding.
We have now announced £740 million of capital for high needs funding in the 2025/26 financial year. This can be used to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings. It can also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings.
The department understands that local authorities will want certainty about the allocation of the high needs provision capital funding for the 2025/26 financial year as soon as possible, in order to develop their approach to supporting children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision in their area. We will confirm allocations for the £740 million funding later in the spring.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many special school places exist in Derbyshire; and if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of this number.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
In 2023, the department collected data from local authorities on available capacity in special schools, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) units and resourced provision for the first time. The capacity data tells us approximately how many places local authorities think were available on 1 May 2023. In Derbyshire, there were approximately 1150 special school places.
The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places, including for pupils with SEND, sits with local authorities. The department supports local authorities to provide suitable school places for children and young people with SEND through annual high needs capital funding.
We have now announced £740 million of capital for high needs funding in the 2025/26 financial year. This can be used to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings. It can also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings.
The department understands that local authorities will want certainty about the allocation of the high needs provision capital funding for the 2025/26 financial year as soon as possible, in order to develop their approach to supporting children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision in their area. We will confirm allocations for the £740 million funding later in the spring.
Asked by: Natalie Fleet (Labour - Bolsover)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of when the review into the proposed North Derbyshire University Academy free school project in Bolsover will be completed.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The mainstream free schools review is ongoing and departmental officials are reviewing the latest information from Redhill Academy Trust and Derbyshire County Council. No decisions have been made yet and the department will not take decisions without considering the key evidence and data.
The department will update all trusts and local authorities on next steps shortly. We will also provide an update on the overall review in due course.