Education

Nick Gibb Excerpts

Wednesday 25th September 2019 Ministerial Corrections

[Judith Cummins]

Pupils in disadvantaged areas are significantly less likely to pass crucial GCSEs such as English and maths. School funding must reflect different needs in different places, but the Government’s recent funding announcement will do exactly the opposite and sees more money going into affluent schools in the south of England while many schools in Bradford South will continue to lose out. How can the Minister justify that disgraceful situation?

[Nick Gibb]

Under this settlement, all schools will receive more money, at least in line with inflation, and schools with the highest proportions of children from disadvantaged backgrounds will receive the highest level of funding. Since 2011, we have closed the attainment gap by 9.5% in secondary schools and by 13% in primary schools.

[Official Report, 9 September 2019, Vol. 664, c. 489.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for School Standards.

An error has been identified in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford South (Judith Cummins).

The correct answer should have been:

[Nick Gibb]

Under this settlement, all schools will attract more money, at least in line with inflation, and schools with the highest proportions of children from disadvantaged backgrounds will receive the highest level of funding. Since 2011, we have closed the attainment gap by 9.5% in secondary schools and by 13% in primary schools.

Topical Questions

The following is an extract from Topical Questions to the Secretary of State for Education on 9 September 2019.

[Stuart C. McDonald (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) (SNP)]

T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.