Oral Answers to Questions

Sheryll Murray Excerpts

Monday 23rd November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Vicky Ford]

My hon. Friend shares our passion for making sure that we improve education in Wolverhampton and all across the country. He has been championing that non-stop, lobbying my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The free schools programme has created thousands of high-quality school places. Three secondary applications have been received from my hon. Friend’s constituency, and we hope to make a decision later this year.

[Mrs Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) (Con)]

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that children self-isolating during the covid-19 outbreak receive high-quality online education.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Gavin Williamson)]

We are clear that schools have a duty to provide remote education for state-funded children who are unable to attend school due to coronavirus. I gave a direction that placed a legal duty to provide remote education in those circumstances. That has been in effect since 22 October 2020.

[Mrs Murray [V]]

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Many teachers are also having to self-isolate. For those who are healthy, are we ensuring that they are able to assist with online learning?

[Gavin Williamson]

We very much are, and we are encouraging schools with teachers who are not in a position to be in the classroom, to ensure and support online learning straight into children’s homes. It is absolutely vital we do so. As we see more and more testing becoming available, we can release staff so they can be back in the classroom supporting the amazing work that is already going on there.