Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to improve academic achievement in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) England and Wales.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all pupils, regardless of their background, receive a high quality education. We are, therefore, working with local authorities, teaching schools, and academy trusts to ensure that schools are receiving appropriate support. As part of that support, Regional Schools Commissioners have a remit to tackle poor performance in schools and where necessary, move them into strong multi academy trusts.

I have met hon. friends from Northamptonshire, Martin Post as Regional Schools Commissioner for North West London and South Central region, and the Director of Children’s Service for Northamptonshire to discuss education standards in Northamptonshire's schools.

In England, we have identified and are providing support for coasting schools that require it. We have recently consulted on proposals to enable more good school places to be created in the consultation document ‘Schools That Work for Everyone’. In addition, we have announced a new £140 million Strategic School Improvement Fund for academies and maintained schools, which will ensure that we target school improvement resources and support from teaching schools and National Leaders of Education where it is most needed.