Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Philip Hollobone Excerpts
Monday 21st January 2013

(11 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Secretary of State was asked—
Philip Hollobone Portrait Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)
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1. What proportion of secondary school pupils are taught in academies in (a) the borough of Kettering, (b) Northamptonshire and (c) England.

Michael Gove Portrait The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove)
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On behalf of the whole House, may I take this opportunity to congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on your 50th birthday on Saturday? On behalf of the whole House, I hope that it was a festive weekend in the Speaker’s household.

There are 2,619 academies in England. Over half of state-funded secondary schools are now open as academies or have applied for academy status. In Kettering, 85% of secondary school-age pupils are taught in academies; in Northamptonshire overall the figure is 75%; and in England it is 52%.

Philip Hollobone Portrait Mr Hollobone
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My constituents are delighted that five of our six secondary schools have now become academies. Will my right hon. Friend kindly agree to visit Kettering to see for himself how the lives of young people are being transformed and their educational development is being enhanced by this exciting Government initiative?

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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It would be a pleasure to visit Kettering. I am delighted at the progress that has been made in Northamptonshire. A wide range of academy sponsors have helped to ensure that children—not just in my hon. Friend’s constituency but across the county—are at last enjoying the education they deserve.