That may be the view of head teachers and governors, but there is no evidence to back up that view. On the contrary, we are doing very well with our GCSE results as things are. They are improving year on year. There is no evidence for the position that they...

That may be the view of head teachers and governors, but there is no evidence to back up that view. On the contrary, we are doing very well with our GCSE results as things are. They are improving year on year. There is no evidence for the position that they...

The subject for this debate is two-tier and three-tier education. When I became the MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, a system of three-tier education was in operation, as is the case now—that is different from what happens in most of the rest of the country. Shortly after I became an MP, three-tier...

The subject for this debate is two-tier and three-tier education. When I became the MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, a system of three-tier education was in operation, as is the case now—that is different from what happens in most of the rest of the country. Shortly after I became an MP, three-tier...

Adjournment debate on three-tier education in Bedfordshire.

Adjournment debate on three-tier education in Bedfordshire.

Is my hon. Friend aware that city academies use a banding system for admission? They take a percentage of children with special needs and a percentage of children of certain ability. They argue that as they have accepted a certain percentage of children with special needs they will not take...

Is my hon. Friend aware that city academies use a banding system for admission? They take a percentage of children with special needs and a percentage of children of certain ability. They argue that as they have accepted a certain percentage of children with special needs they will not take...

I am sure that the hon. Lady will not be surprised to hear that I have absolutely no idea of what happens in Sheffield.

I am sure that the hon. Lady will not be surprised to hear that I have absolutely no idea of what happens in Sheffield.

I wanted to mention a remark made to me yesterday by a Labour Member, but I shall leave it till later, when it will be more in context. She said that the policy was not the same in all areas of the country. However, I shall give way now.

I wanted to mention a remark made to me yesterday by a Labour Member, but I shall leave it till later, when it will be more in context. She said that the policy was not the same in all areas of the country. However, I shall give way now.

I thank my hon. Friend for rescuing me from my difficulty. I want the Minister to say whether the Government have a policy of inclusion, because he may be aware of the 2020 group, whose sole purpose is to ensure that all this country’s special schools are closed by 2020....

I thank my hon. Friend for rescuing me from my difficulty. I want the Minister to say whether the Government have a policy of inclusion, because he may be aware of the 2020 group, whose sole purpose is to ensure that all this country’s special schools are closed by 2020....

In fact, my speech is concerned with new clause 5, which deals with the closure of special schools. However, our policy is that children with special educational needs should have the right to be educated in a special school. If they want to be educated in a mainstream school, they...

In fact, my speech is concerned with new clause 5, which deals with the closure of special schools. However, our policy is that children with special educational needs should have the right to be educated in a special school. If they want to be educated in a mainstream school, they...

I thank the hon. Lady for giving way, and for mentioning the naming of a school in a statement. Is she aware that the Government have plans to build another 200 academies, and that local education authorities will not have to name an academy in their statements unless the academy...

I thank the hon. Lady for giving way, and for mentioning the naming of a school in a statement. Is she aware that the Government have plans to build another 200 academies, and that local education authorities will not have to name an academy in their statements unless the academy...

It is important to mention that about two thirds of all children excluded from school have special educational needs; that is, two thirds of the total number excluded at any one time.

It is important to mention that about two thirds of all children excluded from school have special educational needs; that is, two thirds of the total number excluded at any one time.

I agree that LEAs perform what is called provision mapping, which works for some but not for others. The fact is that 27 per cent. of children with autism are excluded from school every day. Those are the national statistics, and they apply to all LEAs, regardless of their provision...

I agree that LEAs perform what is called provision mapping, which works for some but not for others. The fact is that 27 per cent. of children with autism are excluded from school every day. Those are the national statistics, and they apply to all LEAs, regardless of their provision...

We have all been elected to represent the most disadvantaged in our constituencies. From that perspective, and in the spirit of consensus, I hope that the Minister will accept that any points that I make are not party political but made with the view of representing those of my constituents...

We have all been elected to represent the most disadvantaged in our constituencies. From that perspective, and in the spirit of consensus, I hope that the Minister will accept that any points that I make are not party political but made with the view of representing those of my constituents...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. I want the Minister to clarify whether the Government have a policy of inclusion or not, as LEAs appear to be carrying out such a policy without looking at individual children’s specific needs.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that intervention. I want the Minister to clarify whether the Government have a policy of inclusion or not, as LEAs appear to be carrying out such a policy without looking at individual children’s specific needs.

My hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes) has answered that already, but new clause 4(3) states that the responsible person shall ensure that a child"““is educated in either a mainstream school or a special school””."

My hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes) has answered that already, but new clause 4(3) states that the responsible person shall ensure that a child"““is educated in either a mainstream school or a special school””."

It is a long time since I was in a school classroom and had a blackboard rubber lobbed at me for talking. I hate to think what would happen to a teacher who did that today, although I am not that old and it was not that long ago. We...

It is a long time since I was in a school classroom and had a blackboard rubber lobbed at me for talking. I hate to think what would happen to a teacher who did that today, although I am not that old and it was not that long ago. We...

I have no idea. Perhaps my hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) could answer that one for me. It is a good suggestion. The Royal College of Nursing may be considering it. Society is changing its attitudes. We know what society thinks of politicians, journalists and nurses and...

I have no idea. Perhaps my hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) could answer that one for me. It is a good suggestion. The Royal College of Nursing may be considering it. Society is changing its attitudes. We know what society thinks of politicians, journalists and nurses and...

Will the Secretary of State give way?

Will the Secretary of State give way?

If a school were not performing as well as it should but felt that it could improve standards by embracing trust schools status, and if a local authority’s objection to that school’s proposal was that it should not become a trust school because of the prevailing standards in the school,...

If a school were not performing as well as it should but felt that it could improve standards by embracing trust schools status, and if a local authority’s objection to that school’s proposal was that it should not become a trust school because of the prevailing standards in the school,...

My girls are being educated at a state comprehensive, but I cannot allow the comments of the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) to go unanswered. The hon. Gentleman, who has chaired the Education and Skills Committee, was educated at a selective grammar school, while I, a junior...

My girls are being educated at a state comprehensive, but I cannot allow the comments of the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) to go unanswered. The hon. Gentleman, who has chaired the Education and Skills Committee, was educated at a selective grammar school, while I, a junior...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on special educational needs

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on special educational needs