Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rosie Cooper and David Laws

Monday 19th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)]

5. Whether her Department monitors local education authorities’ adherence to its statutory guidance on school organisation.

[The Minister for Schools (Mr David Laws)]

The Department responds to any concerns that are raised with us, but has no formal role in the decision-making process.

[Rosie Cooper]

Parents are raising concerns with me about the consultation on the possible closure of Glenburn sports college. They are particularly concerned that no assessment has been made of transport issues, and no statements on special educational needs or the possible impact on the use of community facilities have been issued to accompany the consultation. Perhaps most important of all, there is a major conflict of interest. Given that the acting chair of the Glenburn foundation trust governors is also the head of Lancashire county council’s directorate of education, is he acting as judge, jury and executioner? Parents want to know from the Minister whether this process is being handled fairly, and, indeed, what they can do if it is not.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rosie Cooper and David Laws

Monday 10th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)]

13. What steps his Department is taking to raise the status, professionalism and morale of the teaching profession.

[The Minister for Schools (Mr David Laws)]

Our reforms are making teaching a profession of choice for top graduates. Scholarships and bursaries are attracting the very best, and teaching is now the No. 1 destination for graduates from top universities such as Oxford.

[Rosie Cooper]

Surveys by YouGov have shown that teacher morale is plummeting under this Government. Why does the Minister think that that is happening?

[Mr Laws]

I do not accept the hon. Lady’s characterisation of teaching. If it were accurate, we would not see such huge numbers of people applying to become teachers or such an increase in the average university qualifications that teachers are getting. I would also point out that we now have the most generous system ever for funding disadvantaged young people in schools, which is giving teachers the resources to do their job effectively.