Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools received a lump sum payment in the last financial year; and for how many of those schools the lump sum represented (i) less than one, (ii) two to five, (iii) five to 10, (iv) 10 to 20, (v) 20 to 30, (vi) 30 to 40 and (vii) over 50 per cent of their total income.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The schools national funding formula (NFF) introduced in 2018 is used to distribute core funding for mainstream schools, for pupils from reception to year 11. The NFF determines how much funding each local authority receives, and local authorities then determine individual schools’ final allocations through their own local formulae.
In both the schools NFF and local authority formulae, the majority of funding is distributed on the basis of pupil numbers and pupil characteristics. In line with the formula introduced under the previous government, every school receives a contribution to the costs that do not vary with pupil numbers, which is why both the national and local funding formulae provide a lump sum for every school, irrespective of their size.
The table below summarises the proportion of the funding generated by local authority formulae that the lump sum represents in 2024/25.
Lump sum proportion | Number of schools |
<1% | 9 |
1<2% | 1,350 |
2<5% | 2,744 |
5<10% | 5,898 |
10<20% | 7,128 |
20<30% | 2,057 |
30<40% | 696 |
40<50% | 217 |
>=50% | 51 |
Total | 20,150 |
Further information can be found at the following link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-funding-statistics/2024-25.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's transparency data entitled Breakfast clubs early adopters: schools in the scheme, published on 24 February 2025 and updated on 22 April 2025, for what reason 79 schools are no longer taking part in the scheme.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
I refer the hon. Member for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston to the answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 47782.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what number and proportion of Level 7 apprenticeship (a) starts and (b) completions were for people aged (i) under 22 and (ii) 22 or over, in each year for which data is available.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The attached file shows level 7 apprenticeship starts and achievements for the 2015/16 to 2023/24 academic years broken down by learner age as requested.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of looked after children (a) were and (b) were not Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children in each year since 2005.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Information on the number of looked after children, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), is submitted to the department on an annual basis and is published at local authority level in our statistical release at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions.
Figures on the number of UASC in each year since 2005 can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/32f71e7b-83b1-4494-96d7-08dd85738b16. This table also provides data on all children looked after at 31 March from which the number and proportion of non-UASC can be calculated. Similarly, the percentage of UASC can also be derived from this table.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 28 June 2019 to Question 267249 on Schools: Closures, what the (a) postcode, (b) local authority area and (c) rural and urban classification is of each school that has closed with no direct replacement provision in each year since 21 June 2019.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Information on closures of state-funded schools, including the urban/rural classification for each school, is available on the Get Information about Schools (GIAS) website, which can be found here: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Search?SelectedTab=Establishments.
GIAS records a number of different reasons for closure, including closure as a result of amalgamation, “closure” where a school has been replaced by a successor institution (including academy conversions), as well as outright closure of provision.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the document entitled List of schools in the breakfast clubs early adopters scheme, last updated 22 April 2025, for what reason the number of schools participating in the breakfast clubs early adopters scheme fell between the first publication of that list and its most recent published update.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The total number of schools participating in the breakfast clubs early adopters scheme has increased since the initial list was published on 24 February.
From the start of this term, the first 750 free breakfast clubs are opening in towns and cities across the country, supporting nearly 180,000 children with a healthy, nutritious start to their day.
Over 3,000 schools expressed interest in joining the programme, so some movement was always expected as the department confirmed the final list.
The department built in time between the announcement and the start of the scheme in order to work closely with schools, ensure plans were deliverable, and get clubs up and running from the first day of term.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which (a) state schools and (b) independent schools Ministers in her Department have visited since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The table below outlines information on the 69 schools visited by departmental Ministers, including the Secretary of State, between 4 July 2024 and 22 April 2025, in a Ministerial capacity. We have included state and independent primary, secondary and special schools.
Date | Setting | Independent or state? |
11/07/2024 | Woodmansterne Primary | State |
11/07/2024 | Albion Primary School | State |
18/07/2024 | Croftway Academy | State |
18/07/2024 | Iqra Primary School | State |
19/07/2024 | St Kentigern's RC Primary School | State |
19/07/2024 | Trinity CoE High School | State |
05/08/2024 | Fonthill Primary School | State |
13/08/2024 | Westcourt Primary School | State |
20/08/2024 | Harton Academy | State |
02/09/2024 | Perry Hall Primary School | State |
04/09/2024 | Elm Grove Primary School | State |
05/09/2024 | Dilkes Academy | State |
12/09/2024 | Barmston Village Primary School | State |
16/09/2024 | St Peters CofE Primary School | State |
27/09/2024 | Long Lawford Primary School | State |
27/09/2024 | Rugby Free Secondary School | State |
07/10/2024 | JCoSS - Jewish Community Secondary School | State |
10/10/2024 | Rimon Primary School | State |
10/10/2024 | Barry Primary School | State |
10/10/2024 | Weavers Academy | State |
11/10/2024 | Chantry Academy | State |
15/10/2024 | Manchester Academy | State |
15/10/2024 | Co-op Academy Manchester | State |
16/10/2024 | Westwood Academy | State |
17/10/2024 | Colville Primary School | State |
18/10/2024 | Mount Pleasant Primary School | State |
24/10/2024 | Lemington Riverside Primary School | State |
24/10/2024 | Beech Hill Primary School | State |
24/10/2024 | Regent Farm First School | State |
24/10/2024 | Sunningdale School | State |
24/10/2024 | Benedict Biscop C.E. Academy | State |
07/11/2024 | St Michael's CofE Primary Academy | State |
14/11/2024 | Waterville Primary School | State |
21/11/2024 | Reach Academy | State |
28/11/2024 | Hawley Primary School | State |
02/12/2024 | Becontree Primary School | State |
05/12/2024 | Chesterton Primary School | State |
05/12/2024 | Haygrove School | State |
10/12/2024 | The Cavendish School | Independent |
11/12/2024 | Campion School | State |
16/12/2024 | Harris Academy St John's Wood | State |
16/01/2025 | All Saints Catholic Primary School | State |
22/01/2025 | Haberdashers Knights Academy | State |
30/01/2025 | Malmesbury Primary School | State |
31/01/2025 | Rushey Mead Academy | State |
10/02/2025 | Outwood Academy Adwick | State |
13/02/2025 | Richard Cloudesley School Golden Lane Campus | State |
20/02/2025 | Haltwhistle Primary Academy | State |
24/02/2025 | Peckover Primary School | State |
27/02/2025 | Ada Lovelace CofE High School | State |
06/03/2025 | Fair Furlong Community School | State |
14/03/2025 | Cardinal Heenan Catholic School | State |
17/03/2025 | Gatton School | State |
20/03/2025 | Oakdene Primary Academy | State |
20/03/2025 | King's College Maths School | State |
21/03/2025 | E-Act Parkwood Academy | State |
24/03/2025 | Minchinhampton Primary Academy | State |
24/03/2025 | Forest High School | State |
26/03/2025 | Cranmer Primary School | State |
31/03/2025 | Manor Fields School | State |
31/03/2025 | Fulbridge Academy | State |
01/04/2025 | Garden City Academy | State |
02/04/2025 | Millbank Gardens Primary Academy | State |
03/04/2025 | City Academy | State |
03/04/2025 | Mandeville Primary School | State |
16/04/2025 | Coleridge Primary School | State |
16/04/2025 | Ernest Bevin Academy | State |
22/04/2025 | Denbigh Primary School | State |
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 44536 on Childcare: Finance, what role ministers played in allocation decisions; and in what way the four key criteria were (a) assessed and (b) scored.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The assessment process for applications to the school-based nursery capital grant was conducted in a fair and consistent manner across all schools. Awards to eligible schools were made based on application scores.
Each application was evaluated by a team of officials from the department against four established criteria, using a six-point scoring scale. Any applicant that scored less than 2 in any criterion was eliminated from the process. Assessors reviewed each project based on the information provided in the application, the required supporting documentation and relevant school performance and financial indicators available to the department.
After the initial assessment and scoring, a panel of commercial specialists conducted a moderation exercise. Applications were then ranked by total score and funding was awarded to the 300 highest-scoring projects.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the (a) postcode, (b) local authority area and (c) rural urban classification for each state school that has closed and not reopened in another form in each year since 2000.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Information on closures of state-funded schools, including the urban/rural classification for each school, is available on the Get Information about Schools (GIAS) website, which can be found at: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Search?SelectedTab=Establishments.
GIAS records a number of different reasons for closure, including closure as a result of amalgamation, “closure” where a school has been replaced by a successor institution, including academy conversions, as well as outright closure of provision.
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of students (a) joined and (b) left each state school mid-year in each of the last three years.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Information on the number of pupils in England as at January is published annually in the ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ accredited official statistics publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2023-24.
These statistics do not include pupil movements within the school year.