Earlier this week, the Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, set out the Schools White Paper, which aims to make sure every child can reach their full potential. The Parent Pledge is at its heart – a commitment that if a child falls behind in English or maths, the right support will help get them back on track.
It sets out plans to dramatically improve English and maths, supporting children who fall behind in those key subjects and getting them back on track – and getting all schools to offer a minimum 32.5 hour school week by September 2023.
After the statement to the House of Commons, Richard Fuller MP urged the Secretary of State to pay particular attention to the issue of off-rolling. The exchange can be watched here.
Richard said:
The government's education white paper states that it will scrutinise and challenge the practice of off-rolling in schools. Ofsted defines off-rolling as 'the practice of removing a pupil from the school roll without a formal, permanent exclusion, or by encouraging a parent to remove their child from the school roll, when the removal is primarily in the interests of the school rather than in the best interests of the pupil'.
Given that off-rolling can undermine trust if unchecked, I urged the Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi to pay particular attention to this issue.
Richard also thanked the Secretary of State for making Bedfordshire an education investment area, announced earlier this year.
The Schools White Paper can be read here.
A Special Educational Needs Green Paper has also been published with a new plan to give better support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. To have your say in government proposals for SEND and alternative provision, please visit this page by Friday 1 July 2022.
