Academies Bill [Lords]

Baroness Teather Excerpts

Monday 26th July 2010 Commons Chamber

The investment needed to make real social cohesion work in large secondary schools, in both rural and urban areas, but especially in large schools in densely populated urban areas, is important not only to the school, but to the whole community. I want to see our academies, and all our schools, used seven days a week, with proper facilities being offered and without the restriction of governors saying that they do not want strangers in the building. Social cohesion means that the school can be used on a Sunday afternoon if someone is prepared to put the money in to pay the caretaker, not that the facilities are jealously guarded by the school as if they are only for its use. If this is going to work, we have to accept that these schools are an integral part of community provision. Sadly—[Interruption.] I thought that the right hon. Member for Morley and Outwood (Ed Balls) wished to intervene. He was either yawning or mumbling about his leadership bid.

[The Minister of State, Department for Education (Sarah Teather)]

He was talking to his wife.

[Mr Hancock]

Yes, I was a bit thrown by that. I do not know if there was a domestic going on—