Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Steve McCabe Excerpts
Monday 24th June 2019

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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Yes, indeed. We work with local authorities to make sure that we have up-to-date assessments and projections of the need for school places, and we fund to those projections to make sure that there is the right number of places. We are absolutely focused on making sure that we are doing that by expanding existing good and outstanding schools and putting in good new provision, which also improves diversity and choice.

Steve McCabe Portrait Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)
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Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating Johanne Clifton, the executive principal of Billesley Primary School, and its staff and pupils on achieving an outstanding rating in all Ofsted categories? This was previously a school that was in difficulty, and it is in a very disadvantaged part of my constituency. Does he realise, however, that schools like this need adequate resources in order to maintain commitment and achievement? Even a school like this is struggling financially at the moment.

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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I do recognise, of course, that that school and all schools need the right resources. I am also very happy to join the hon. Gentleman in his congratulation and commendation of Ms Clifton and all the staff, pupils and parents at the school.