Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Green Excerpts
Monday 10th March 2025

(2 days, 12 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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The Secretary of State was asked—
Sarah Green Portrait Sarah Green (Chesham and Amersham) (LD)
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1. What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of exceptional funding for schools.

Catherine McKinnell Portrait The Minister for School Standards (Catherine McKinnell)
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I am proud that while this Government have made tough decisions, we have protected key education priorities. There is additional investment in breakfast clubs, we are rebuilding and improving our special educational needs and disabilities system, and we are doing much more. After 14 years of decline, dither and delay, we are putting education back at the heart of national life and breaking down barriers to opportunity for every child in every community.

In response to the hon. Lady’s specific question, exceptional funding will continue to be allocated through local authorities on a case-by-case basis.

Sarah Green Portrait Sarah Green
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Chesham grammar school, in my constituency, has received exceptional funding from the Department for some years to facilitate the hire of the neighbouring leisure centre’s sports hall for PE lessons. This year, the school’s application has been denied, despite its circumstances not having changed; it still has no on-site sports hall, and it still needs to fund the £65,000 hiring fees each year. Will the Minister meet me to discuss this particular case to ensure that the students of Chesham grammar school have access to the PE curriculum the school is required to provide come September?