Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tim Loughton and Patrick Mercer

Monday 17th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Patrick Mercer (Newark) (Con)]

11. What recent assessment he has made of the funding of faith schools; and if he will make a statement.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Tim Loughton)]

No separate assessment has been made of faith school funding. The only distinction in funding between faith schools and other maintained schools and academies is in the contribution to capital-funded projects made by voluntary-aided schools.

[Patrick Mercer]

I am grateful for the Minister’s reply. I am sure that he will join me in congratulating the al-Karam Muslim school in Eaton in my constituency on its extraordinary achievement. Will he be kind enough to give me an idea of what we might do further to help not just that school, but the Everyday Champions school in Newark?

[Tim Loughton]

I am delighted to pass on my good wishes to those schools that have done well in my hon. Friend’s constituency. It contains no fewer than 17 schools with a religious character which have done well. I am aware that the Everyday Champions organisation applied for a free school but was unsuccessful, and I think that he has been copied in on the reasons why, but we will continue to encourage those faith schools that offer a particularly excellent education for the many children whom they now look after.