That this House commends the work of Albanian societies in the United Kingdom for organising teaching of the Albanian language; notes that the Asset Languages Scheme is a voluntary assessment scheme for the language ladder introduced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and provides accreditation for the skills of language learners of all ages and abilities from primary through to further, higher and adult education; calls on the Department and the contractor who run the scheme Cambridge Assessment to consider adding the Albanian language to the Asset Language programme; and urges the five examination boards AQA, CCEA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC to consider carefully the case for adding Albanian to the list of languages which can be studied to GCSE level.

That this House commends the work of Albanian societies in the United Kingdom for organising teaching of the Albanian language; notes that the Asset Languages Scheme is a voluntary assessment scheme for the language ladder introduced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and provides accreditation for the skills...

That this House is alarmed by proposals of edubusinesses to run state schools for profit along the lines of the Swedish system supported by the Conservative Party; and while recognising the important role business can play in supporting schools, deplores the notion that the educational needs of present and future generations should be exploited for profit by companies, organisations or individuals.

That this House is alarmed by proposals of edubusinesses to run state schools for profit along the lines of the Swedish system supported by the Conservative Party; and while recognising the important role business can play in supporting schools, deplores the notion that the educational needs of present and future...

That this House welcomes a study by the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex which showed that children who are driven to school have the lowest levels of physical fitness, being less fit than walkers, cyclists and children who took the bus; notes in particular that in the age group 10 to 16 years, research showed that boys who walked to school were 20 per cent. more likely to be fit compared with those using motorised transport and that for girls the figure was 30 per cent.; further notes that boys who cycled to school were found to be 30 per cent. fitter, while female cyclists were seven times more likely to reach the minimum fitness standard than girls who were driven to school; congratulates Dr Gavin Sandercock and Christine Voss for the research involving 6,000 pupils in the East of England; and calls on the Government to encourage schools to promote cycling and walking as a means of raising fitness levels amongst pupils, with particular emphasis on providing safe cycling routes.

That this House welcomes a study by the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex which showed that children who are driven to school have the lowest levels of physical fitness, being less fit than walkers, cyclists and children who took the bus; notes in particular that in...

That this House welcomes the free smart meters for schools scheme announced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families; notes that the initiative unites schools in the Government's fight against climate change, whilst allowing them to save money; commends the Government's recognition of the dual requirement to tackle current emission levels and educate the next generation on the importance of monitoring energy use; urges all hon. Members to promote the scheme throughout their constituencies; and looks forward to the future of an energy-conscious generation.

That this House welcomes the free smart meters for schools scheme announced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families; notes that the initiative unites schools in the Government's fight against climate change, whilst allowing them to save money; commends the Government's recognition of the dual requirement to tackle current...

That this House welcomes the introduction of new pilot schemes for universal free school meals in schools; believes that universal free school meals have a positive effect on the health and educational attainment of pupils; notes that 26 per cent. of primary school children in Stoke-on-Trent are already eligible for free school meals; understands that many of those eligible do not currently take up free school meals; and calls on the Government to work with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the free school meal campaigners in the city to build on the healthy eating agenda already underway in Stoke-on-Trent to establish a free school meals pilot there.

That this House welcomes the introduction of new pilot schemes for universal free school meals in schools; believes that universal free school meals have a positive effect on the health and educational attainment of pupils; notes that 26 per cent. of primary school children in Stoke-on-Trent are already eligible for...

That this House notes with approval that plans for a 5,000 place boarding school for Muslim girls at Brierfield Mills have been blocked by the Charity Commission, which has ruled that it is not within the charitable objects of the Birmingham-based Islamic Help to raise money for such a purpose; is reminded that the charity's focus is disaster relief; further notes that Islamic Help has been ordered to return the money raised from its appeal for funds to all those who donated and expects this to be reported prominently on its website; is informed that donations made anonymously will go into a special pot which cannot be used for another purpose without the express permission of the Charity Commission; notes that the fundraising appeal has now been removed from Islamic Help's website; further notes with incredulity the explanation from the charity that the ??10,000 reportedly raised by the appeal to date has not been applied in furtherance of the boarding school project; believes that ??650,000 of the ??1,020,000 plus value added tax purchase price came in the form of a loan from Lloyds TSB with the balance allegedly coming from pledges and backdated gift aid; and calls for a full audit of the finances of Islamic Help and the continued involvement of the Charity Commission in its supervision and oversight.

That this House notes with approval that plans for a 5,000 place boarding school for Muslim girls at Brierfield Mills have been blocked by the Charity Commission, which has ruled that it is not within the charitable objects of the Birmingham-based Islamic Help to raise money for such a purpose;...

That this House recognises that sustainable power-sharing in Northern Ireland would be massively enhanced with greater moves to bringing Catholics and Protestants together in daily life, especially in housing and education; further recognises that these two communities are deeply segregated from each other; notes that only six per cent. of children attend integrated schools which seek to promote mutual understanding; and urges policy-makers to make increasing the size of the integrated education sector a far greater priority.

That this House recognises that sustainable power-sharing in Northern Ireland would be massively enhanced with greater moves to bringing Catholics and Protestants together in daily life, especially in housing and education; further recognises that these two communities are deeply segregated from each other; notes that only six per cent. of...

That this House recognises the importance of civic education as part of the national curriculum; is concerned at the level of disengagement from the political process on the part of many young people; believes that there is an urgent need to help young people develop their understanding of the political and democratic process and of the opportunities for public participation and to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; and calls on the Government further to develop civic education by promoting lessons specifically designed to provide better understanding on the part of young people of the opportunities to participate in and shape the political process.

That this House recognises the importance of civic education as part of the national curriculum; is concerned at the level of disengagement from the political process on the part of many young people; believes that there is an urgent need to help young people develop their understanding of the political...

That this House notes the reported purchase of Brierfield Mills by the Birmingham-based charity, Islamic Help, whose website invites donations to convert the seven acre former medical fabrics factory into the UK's largest boarding school for Muslim girls; observes that ??500 would go towards student accommodation, ??5,000 towards a classroom and ??20,000 towards a computer lab; further notes that Islamic Help's primary charitable object is the relief of financial hardship including hardship caused by famine, war or other disaster in any part of the world as the trustees see fit; further notes that Afzal Anwar, a local lawyer whose firm was responsible for the conveyance, has sought to clarify the charity's intentions saying that there would be revisions to the original proposals and that the charity would look to create a sports centre alongside a commercial village housing start-up businesses; calls on the charity to spell out its precise intentions forthwith; believes that Islamic Help is operating outside its charitable objectives; and urges the Charity Commission to take immediate action to return donations to those who contributed to the appeal expecting that their money would help to pay for a 5,000 place boarding school for Muslim girls.

That this House notes the reported purchase of Brierfield Mills by the Birmingham-based charity, Islamic Help, whose website invites donations to convert the seven acre former medical fabrics factory into the UK's largest boarding school for Muslim girls; observes that ??500 would go towards student accommodation, ??5,000 towards a classroom...

That this House welcomes the launch of Development Education Association's Global Learning Charter, signed by a wide coalition of organisations supporting learning that offers citizens an understanding of global issues and the capabilities to create a more just and sustainable world; is concerned by reports that indicate 93 per cent. of school-age children feel it is important to learn about these issues at school but that 63 per cent. of them feel they do not learn enough about the wider world; further recognises that we live in an interdependent and globalised world, collectively facing a range of challenges including inequality and poverty, climate change and racial and religious intolerance; believes that through the power and creativity of an engaged public these challenges can be met; calls on the Government, business and the third sector to help promote leadership and innovation on global learning; and urges the Government to support UK citizens to learn about global issues and their interdependence in order to promote justice and sustainability.

That this House welcomes the launch of Development Education Association's Global Learning Charter, signed by a wide coalition of organisations supporting learning that offers citizens an understanding of global issues and the capabilities to create a more just and sustainable world; is concerned by reports that indicate 93 per cent....

That this House notes that a report from the think-tank Civitas states that some academy schools boost exam results by concentrating on vocational courses at the expense of academic subjects, specifically that geography, history, single sciences and modern languages are disappearing at GCSE level in some in favour of qualifications such as computer studies, general science or sport; believes that the Civitas report puts into perspective the claims that GCSE results at academies are improving at twice the national average rate; and calls on the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to undertake a thorough investigation of the curriculum provided at academy schools to ensure that it fully complies with the national curriculum.

That this House notes that a report from the think-tank Civitas states that some academy schools boost exam results by concentrating on vocational courses at the expense of academic subjects, specifically that geography, history, single sciences and modern languages are disappearing at GCSE level in some in favour of qualifications...

That this House is concerned that the Government will not publish responses or names of the local authorities which failed to respond to the Department for Children, Schools and Families' survey asking for information on whether school buildings have asbestos-containing materials; believes it is unacceptable that the public are not aware of the names of the local authorities that have failed to reply to the Government's asbestos survey or are being investigated by the Department; and therefore calls on the Government to make public the full results of the survey, including all local authority responses or refusals to respond, without further delay.

That this House is concerned that the Government will not publish responses or names of the local authorities which failed to respond to the Department for Children, Schools and Families' survey asking for information on whether school buildings have asbestos-containing materials; believes it is unacceptable that the public are not...

That this House recognises the work of the Personal Finance Education Group in delivering personal finance education to children and young people, and the importance of personal finance education in schools in the current economic climate; acknowledges that for future generations to be financially responsible adults, school-age children must be equipped with the financial know-how to analyse, challenge and question money matters and make reasoned financial decisions; and notes that money management skills are essential in empowering individuals to take charge of their lives and aspirations and to positively influence psychological well-being.

That this House recognises the work of the Personal Finance Education Group in delivering personal finance education to children and young people, and the importance of personal finance education in schools in the current economic climate; acknowledges that for future generations to be financially responsible adults, school-age children must be...

That this House congratulates the pupils, staff and parents of St Monica's Catholic Primary School, Bootle, for its inclusion in the recent Ofsted report `Twenty outstanding primary schools - Excelling against the odds'; notes that St Monica's School and the Bootle community deserve this accolade; and endorses the comment by Ofsted that the school is an exemplar of outstanding practice for all 23,000 schools across the country to aspire to.

That this House congratulates the pupils, staff and parents of St Monica's Catholic Primary School, Bootle, for its inclusion in the recent Ofsted report `Twenty outstanding primary schools - Excelling against the odds'; notes that St Monica's School and the Bootle community deserve this accolade; and endorses the comment by...

That this House welcomes the high quality of entries for the National Science and Engineering Competition, which closed on 30 October 2009; applauds the innovation, imagination and understanding of all the young people who entered the competition; appreciates the dedication of teachers in inspiring these young people; looks forward to The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists' and Engineers' Fair in Manchester on 11 to 13 March 2010 which will include the finals of the competition; and welcomes the continuing support of hon. Members from across the House for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

That this House welcomes the high quality of entries for the National Science and Engineering Competition, which closed on 30 October 2009; applauds the innovation, imagination and understanding of all the young people who entered the competition; appreciates the dedication of teachers in inspiring these young people; looks forward to...

That this House applauds the work of the British Safety Council with 14 to 19 year olds in full-time education; and recognises its enormous effort over the last two years in helping 40,000 young people to gain an accredited health and safety qualification and in consequence raising their awareness of workplace dangers before they embark on work experience or their first job.

That this House applauds the work of the British Safety Council with 14 to 19 year olds in full-time education; and recognises its enormous effort over the last two years in helping 40,000 young people to gain an accredited health and safety qualification and in consequence raising their awareness of...

That this House congratulates Endon High School on reaching the final round of the N-Power Climate Cops SOS competition at a time when local community responses to the challenges of climate change are increasingly necessary; fully supports Endon High School's goal of establishing a cycle path along the Stoke-on-Trent to Endon stretch of the disused railway line that is safe for pedestrians and which would link to the Sustrans national cycle network; notes that the day on which Endon High School was finalising its campaign, an announcement was made that the disused railway track has been purchased by Moorlands and City Railways Ltd with a view to reopening the railway line; and urges all local and national partners including Network Rail, Staffordshire County Council, Advantage West Midlands, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Sustrans, North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership, and the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce urgently to back Endon High School by ensuring a feasibility study is jointly undertaken into a cycle and pedestrian track to co-exist with the planned railway line in the interests of sustainable tourism in North Staffordshire.

That this House congratulates Endon High School on reaching the final round of the N-Power Climate Cops SOS competition at a time when local community responses to the challenges of climate change are increasingly necessary; fully supports Endon High School's goal of establishing a cycle path along the Stoke-on-Trent to...

That this House supports Whickham School's 2009 annual charity week, led by co-chairs Jess Emmerson and Sarah Bilton and vice-chairs Lucy Zwolinska and Andrew Gallagher which aims to raise money for the Sophie Atay Appeal; notes that two year old Sophie has been diagnosed at a high risk stage of a rare and aggressive form of cancer called Neuroblastoma; further notes that this cancer has survival rates as low as 20 per cent.; that her family have found a hospital in New York where the chances of survival could soar to between 80 and 90 per cent.; applauds the students' initiative in devising a wide variety of fundraising ideas including a Sing for Sophie battle of the bands, tuck shops, car washes, t-shirt sales, a curry night and an X-Factor style competition running with special guest Big Brother's Charlie Drummond judging the final; and wishes all those involved great success in raising money for this vital cause.

That this House supports Whickham School's 2009 annual charity week, led by co-chairs Jess Emmerson and Sarah Bilton and vice-chairs Lucy Zwolinska and Andrew Gallagher which aims to raise money for the Sophie Atay Appeal; notes that two year old Sophie has been diagnosed at a high risk stage of...

That this House notes with concern the threat that the Rarely Cover guidance poses to learning outside the classroom; highlights the fact that many schools are cancelling school trips citing concerns over the application of the Rarely Cover guidance; notes that as a consequence the guidance is contradictory in its aim to facilitate the continuation of educationally valuable visits or trips; further notes the value of educational trips to children's personal development and learning of life skills; and calls on the Government to provide clarification on the guidance to ensure that the negative impact on school trips is minimised.

That this House notes with concern the threat that the Rarely Cover guidance poses to learning outside the classroom; highlights the fact that many schools are cancelling school trips citing concerns over the application of the Rarely Cover guidance; notes that as a consequence the guidance is contradictory in its...

That this House notes that 2009 is the 70th anniversary of the end of the longest strike in history, the Burston School strike of 1914 to 1939; acknowledges the historic significance of the reasons behind the strike carried out by Tom and Kitty Higdon; recognises the commitment of the teaching profession throughout the years to ensure that all young people are afforded a good education; and calls on the Government to consider a memorial commemorating the stand that the Higdons, their pupils and their parents made in 1914.

That this House notes that 2009 is the 70th anniversary of the end of the longest strike in history, the Burston School strike of 1914 to 1939; acknowledges the historic significance of the reasons behind the strike carried out by Tom and Kitty Higdon; recognises the commitment of the teaching...

That this House is aware of the Carbon Trust, an independent company established by Government in 2001 in response to the threat of climate change to help businesses and service providers to accelerate the move towards a low carbon economy to help reduce carbon emissions and to develop commercial low carbon technologies; is also aware that so far the Trust has worked with more than 700 secondary schools and further education colleges across the nation which have already identified energy savings of around 16 million and carbon emission savings of 119,000 tonnes annually; welcomes the Trust's fresh campaign to encourage all head teachers and college administrators in England and Wales to realise potential energy savings in their schools and colleges, whilst at the same time helping to tackle global warming; believes such a strategy should be supported by all education authorities; and calls on the Government to do all it can to help deliver such a sensible and worthwhile strategy.

That this House is aware of the Carbon Trust, an independent company established by Government in 2001 in response to the threat of climate change to help businesses and service providers to accelerate the move towards a low carbon economy to help reduce carbon emissions and to develop commercial low...

That this House believes that fair and balanced education about religious and non-religious beliefs should be a part of the school curriculum and that it is important that such a subject be broad, objective and balanced; notes that the new draft guidance on religious education (RE) published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families contributes little to the evolution of the subject and fails to address any of the concerns surrounding the subject of RE; further believes that the current statute law on religious education is no longer fit for purpose in terms of the content and the mechanism of deciding on syllabuses it prescribes; and calls on the Government to commission a Government or independent review of the primary legislation on RE with a view to reforming the law on RE.

That this House believes that fair and balanced education about religious and non-religious beliefs should be a part of the school curriculum and that it is important that such a subject be broad, objective and balanced; notes that the new draft guidance on religious education (RE) published by the Department...

That this House commends the work of David Reid, Head Teacher of Manor Green Primary School in Crawley, West Sussex on leading his staff, pupils and parents in achieving an outstanding Ofsted report, putting Manor Green Primary School in the top 10 per cent. of schools nationally and making it the first special school in West Sussex to achieve an outstanding grade; congratulates David Reid and his staff on securing a Gold Arts Mark for Manor Green Primary School; and notes that these achievements are reflected in David Reid winning the National Centre for School Leadership's South East Primary Head Teacher of the Year 2008; further notes that David Reid's work and commitment to students, staff and parents has seen Manor Green Primary School go from strength to strength and provide a truly excellent education for children with special needs in Crawley.

That this House commends the work of David Reid, Head Teacher of Manor Green Primary School in Crawley, West Sussex on leading his staff, pupils and parents in achieving an outstanding Ofsted report, putting Manor Green Primary School in the top 10 per cent. of schools nationally and making it...

That this House notes with concern that the number of school students choosing to study physical science subjects post-16 has fallen over the last 25 years; recognises the significant contribution that outdoor learning makes to increasing students' enthusiasm for science and helping them on their way to becoming the new scientists of the future; notes with concern that there are currently a number of barriers to improving fieldwork, including Initial Teacher Training which is not working effectively enough to help produce sufficient numbers of high quality teachers with confidence, competence and commitment to teach outdoor science to the next generation of children and young people; further notes with concern that Qualified Teacher Status standard 30 only requires that trainee teachers should be able to identify opportunities for out-of-school learning, with no requirement for trainees to plan, organise, take part in, and lead outdoor learning activities; congratulates the Field Studies Council (FSC), an environmental education charity committed to helping people understand and be inspired by the natural world, on its campaign to improve teacher training; and calls on the Department for Children, Schools and Families to support the FSC's campaign to introduce minimum standards in Initial Teacher Training and urgently to review Qualified Teacher Status standard 30.

That this House notes with concern that the number of school students choosing to study physical science subjects post-16 has fallen over the last 25 years; recognises the significant contribution that outdoor learning makes to increasing students' enthusiasm for science and helping them on their way to becoming the new...

That this House notes the important role recycling has in the sustainable use of resources and in protecting the environment; further notes that, according to the Waste Resources and Action Programme (WRAP), 78 per cent. of schools' waste could be easily recycled or composted; further notes the Department for Children, Schools and Families target to ensure that all schools are sustainable schools by 2020; is concerned that the financial implications of facilitating recycling mean straining school resources and often deterring schools from recycling at all; is further concerned by a UK Youth Parliament survey which found that 73 per cent. of councils do not provide a full recycling service for schools for free, that a third of local authorities classify schools' recycling waste as trade waste, despite Government recommendations, and that many councils that do offer the service said they may need to start charging in the future; supports the UK Youth Parliament campaign to make recycling in schools free and compulsory; and believes that recycling in schools is something local authorities need to prioritise as a necessary cost and work in partnership with schools to provide free recycling facilities and collections.

That this House notes the important role recycling has in the sustainable use of resources and in protecting the environment; further notes that, according to the Waste Resources and Action Programme (WRAP), 78 per cent. of schools' waste could be easily recycled or composted; further notes the Department for Children,...

That this House congratulates all of the competitors in the 2009 British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) and hopes that those selected to travel to Mexico to compete in the International Olympiad are able to do so safely; praises the BPhO's excellent efforts in inspiring young people to further study in physics; recognises the importance of these efforts at a time when six out of 10 science, technology, engineering and mathematics employers state that they are having difficulty recruiting; regrets that the Department for Children, Schools and Families has decided to discontinue funding for the UK team to travel to the international competition; and calls on the Government to reinstate this funding.

That this House congratulates all of the competitors in the 2009 British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) and hopes that those selected to travel to Mexico to compete in the International Olympiad are able to do so safely; praises the BPhO's excellent efforts in inspiring young people to further study in physics;...

That this House would welcome the introduction of school report cards provided that they give a broader and more meaningful assessment of school performance and quality; awaits the publication of the Government's White Paper on report cards later this year; welcomes the decision to abolish compulsory national curriculum tests at Key Stage 3; and believes Key Stage 2 tests are an important accountability measure but should be reformed and slimmed down with more teacher assessment coupled with external moderation to ensure high standards are maintained.

That this House would welcome the introduction of school report cards provided that they give a broader and more meaningful assessment of school performance and quality; awaits the publication of the Government's White Paper on report cards later this year; welcomes the decision to abolish compulsory national curriculum tests at...

That this House notes with concern the Teachers TV survey of education employees which found that 55.1 per cent. of respondents are aware of racist bullying in their school; further notes with alarm that 68.3 per cent. of respondents commented that their school does not have a strategy to help combat racist bullying; commends the work of the Anti-Bullying Alliance in attempting to counter bullying of all kinds; applauds the makers of Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks for drawing public attention to this important issue; and calls on the Government to provide sufficient resources to help ensure that schools successfully implement comprehensive strategies against racist bullying.

That this House notes with concern the Teachers TV survey of education employees which found that 55.1 per cent. of respondents are aware of racist bullying in their school; further notes with alarm that 68.3 per cent. of respondents commented that their school does not have a strategy to help...

That this House is deeply concerned that new schools are being built which do not comply with government standards on acoustics; notes that children suffering from deafness are much less likely to get five good GCSEs than hearing children; agrees with the National Deaf Children's Society that deafness is not a learning disability and that poor quality acoustics is one of several barriers preventing deaf children being able to achieve their full potential; and calls on the Government to require new schools to be tested for acoustics pre-completion, to monitor and review the quality of acoustics in schools annually, and to ensure that all schools adhere to acoustic standards.

That this House is deeply concerned that new schools are being built which do not comply with government standards on acoustics; notes that children suffering from deafness are much less likely to get five good GCSEs than hearing children; agrees with the National Deaf Children's Society that deafness is not...

That this House notes with considerable concern that the health of around a million children with specified health conditions, including asthma, cancer, coeliac disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, epilepsy, heart conditions, HIV, mental health problems, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell disease and conditions that can cause stroke, is put at risk because they are not receiving sufficient support at school; further notes that poor support at school stops children from fulfilling their potential; recognises that while guidance on medicines in schools remains voluntary, inequality of experience will continue; and acknowledges that by providing better support, children with medical needs will have improved health outcomes and reduce the financial burden on the NHS.

That this House notes with considerable concern that the health of around a million children with specified health conditions, including asthma, cancer, coeliac disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, epilepsy, heart conditions, HIV, mental health problems, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell disease and conditions that can cause stroke, is put at risk because...

That this House is concerned that the quality of education in schools close to Heathrow Airport is being compromised because children are denied full and proper development through outdoor learning due to noise from overhead flights; expresses deep concern that the Government is not adhering to its own manifesto, Learning out of the Classroom; calls on the Government to enshrine in law the right of children to educational outdoor space, a high standard of well-being and health as well as social and personal development; and further calls on the Government to ensure that such standards are enforced for schools in the proximity of Heathrow Airport before any approval for a third runway is granted.

That this House is concerned that the quality of education in schools close to Heathrow Airport is being compromised because children are denied full and proper development through outdoor learning due to noise from overhead flights; expresses deep concern that the Government is not adhering to its own manifesto, Learning...

That this House has serious concerns about the speeding of motorists, particularly in close proximity to schools; notes that between 2005 and 2007, the latest period for which figures are available, police officers attended 14,577 accidents in which someone was seriously injured and speeding was listed as a contributory factor; is alarmed that in 2007 speeding contributed to 727 deaths; welcomes the fact that the Government was forecast to spend ??1,815,000 on television advertising to make people aware of the dangers and consequences of driving in excess of the speed limit in 2008-09; and calls on the Government to implement 20 mph speed limits in areas surrounding schools.

That this House has serious concerns about the speeding of motorists, particularly in close proximity to schools; notes that between 2005 and 2007, the latest period for which figures are available, police officers attended 14,577 accidents in which someone was seriously injured and speeding was listed as a contributory factor;...

That this House congratulates Waringstown Primary School on its recent success in winning the Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year competition for the second time; recognises the huge work and dedication of everyone involved with this victory; applauds the record of excellence demonstrated by Waringstown Primary School; and wishes it every success for the future.

That this House congratulates Waringstown Primary School on its recent success in winning the Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year competition for the second time; recognises the huge work and dedication of everyone involved with this victory; applauds the record of excellence demonstrated by Waringstown Primary School; and...

That this House welcomed the opportunity to debate the issue of asbestos in schools in Westminster Hall; notes the fatal effect that exposure to asbestos continues to have on pupils and teachers exposed to asbestos fibres in school buildings; further notes that the incidence of mesothelioma is rising, with the Association of Teachers and Lecturers citing at least 400 members of the teaching profession who have been exposed to asbestos, recognises that 75 per cent. of all schools across the country have asbestos present in one form or another; notes that in the United States of America and the Republic of Ireland clear policies have been adopted in relation to asbestos in school buildings; calls upon the Government to carry out a confidential national survey of schools, followed by funding from the Department of Children, Schools and Families for any school identified during the survey as needing remedial work; further calls on the Government to implement a policy of replacing all asbestos containing materials in schools as part of a national strategy with clear targets in order to provide safe environments for the nation's pupils to succeed; and welcomes the Government's concession that proper training needs to be provided to all head teachers and school managers regarding their current responsibilities in this area.

That this House welcomed the opportunity to debate the issue of asbestos in schools in Westminster Hall; notes the fatal effect that exposure to asbestos continues to have on pupils and teachers exposed to asbestos fibres in school buildings; further notes that the incidence of mesothelioma is rising, with the...

That this House regrets that the Government has decided not to update the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 with regards to the provision of school toilets and drinking water, due to concerns over increasing the burden of regulation; commends the provisions within the Building Schools for the Future guidelines on school toilets and drinking water as examples of good design for secondary schools; is disappointed that this programme does not apply to primary schools; is concerned that, without central guidance, local authorities will not be incentivised to invest in improved toilet and drinking facilities for primary schools; and emphasises the positive impact improved facilities can have on children's health and wellbeing.

That this House regrets that the Government has decided not to update the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 with regards to the provision of school toilets and drinking water, due to concerns over increasing the burden of regulation; commends the provisions within the Building Schools for the Future guidelines on...

That this House congratulates Islington Labour councillors in successfully amending the borough's budget for 2009-10 to enable all primary school children to receive free school meals; and believes that this constitutes a great commitment to children's health and shows proper priorities.

That this House congratulates Islington Labour councillors in successfully amending the borough's budget for 2009-10 to enable all primary school children to receive free school meals; and believes that this constitutes a great commitment to children's health and shows proper priorities.

That this House welcomes the launch of Send My Friend to School 2009 organised by the Global Campaign for Education; notes that on 22 April millions of people in over 100 countries will take part in The Big Read to highlight the importance of literacy; calls on world leaders to redouble their efforts to meet the promise made in 2000 that every child in the world would complete a quality education by 2015; notes that over 70 million children still do not get a chance to go to school; and urges the Government to live up to its spending commitments on education in developing countries to ensure that ??1 billion per year is spent between 2010 and 2015, and that those countries furthest from achieving education for all by 2015 are prioritised for funding.

That this House welcomes the launch of Send My Friend to School 2009 organised by the Global Campaign for Education; notes that on 22 April millions of people in over 100 countries will take part in The Big Read to highlight the importance of literacy; calls on world leaders to...

That this House welcomes the Government's White Paper, New Opportunities: Fair Chances for the Future and the recent report of the Independent Commission on Social Mobility commissioned by the Liberal Democrats; further welcomes the recognition by the Conservative Shadow Minister for Innovation, Universities and Skills that selective schools entrench privilege; notes the cross-party political consensus on the importance of equality of access to good schools in improving children's life chances; notes with concern, however, the extent of overt and covert selection still permitted by the School Admissions Code; notes the evidence linking selective school admission policies with growing social segregation; believes that public tests designed to fail the majority of children are incompatible with the spirit and purpose of the Every Child Matters agenda; further believes that the Government's arguments in support of the abolition of Key Stage 3 tests apply equally to Key Stage 2 tests; and therefore calls on the Government to announce its intention to end external KS2 tests and 11 plus tests, thus ensuring that no child starts their secondary school career publicly labelled as a failure.

That this House welcomes the Government's White Paper, New Opportunities: Fair Chances for the Future and the recent report of the Independent Commission on Social Mobility commissioned by the Liberal Democrats; further welcomes the recognition by the Conservative Shadow Minister for Innovation, Universities and Skills that selective schools entrench privilege;...

That this House notes not only the practical debacle over SATS testing but also the negative effects on children; welcomes the scrapping of compulsory Key Stage 3 SATS tests; believes that the Government's proposals for single level testing will not solve the problem of over-testing; remains of the view that assessment is still necessary and important; further notes the recent petition on testing reform; and believes that there is a need to scale back further the cost and complexity of national testing, with more moderated teachers' assessment at age 11 years and more time for a richer and broader curriculum.

That this House notes not only the practical debacle over SATS testing but also the negative effects on children; welcomes the scrapping of compulsory Key Stage 3 SATS tests; believes that the Government's proposals for single level testing will not solve the problem of over-testing; remains of the view that...

That this House welcomes the report by Ofsted entitled Making More of Music; and calls on the Government to implement the findings, which will encourage greater use of music in schools and make it available to every child.

That this House welcomes the report by Ofsted entitled Making More of Music; and calls on the Government to implement the findings, which will encourage greater use of music in schools and make it available to every child.

That this House notes the Government's attempt, through the School Report Card, to shift the emphasis from school league tables of test and examination results to more meaningful performance and accountability measures, but is concerned that the proposals may create even more unnecessary accountability burdens on schools; whilst welcoming the decision to abolish National Curriculum tests at Key Stage 3, believes it is incomprehensible that teacher assessment is deemed appropriate for secondary and not primary schools; and therefore calls on the Government to introduce a similar system to that in Wales by removing high stakes end of key stage tests at age seven and 11, replacing them with meaningful assessments which inform teaching and learning.

That this House notes the Government's attempt, through the School Report Card, to shift the emphasis from school league tables of test and examination results to more meaningful performance and accountability measures, but is concerned that the proposals may create even more unnecessary accountability burdens on schools; whilst welcoming the...

That this House condemns the decision of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to halt approval of further capital expenditure by colleges pending a review; is concerned that this is already delaying capital expenditure at a time when the Government has promised to accelerate investment in order to offset the impacts of the current recession; calls on Ministers to take action to ensure that the LSC grants approval to the existing applications as a matter of urgency; and urges the Government to further increase capital investment in the schools and colleges sector to promote high quality projects and to help cushion the current deep downturn in the construction sector.

That this House condemns the decision of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to halt approval of further capital expenditure by colleges pending a review; is concerned that this is already delaying capital expenditure at a time when the Government has promised to accelerate investment in order to offset the...

That this House supports Accord, the national coalition that unites religious and non-religious individuals and organisations campaigning for inclusive schools; believes that all state schools should be open to children and teachers of all backgrounds and beliefs; is concerned that current legislation permits schools with a religious character to discriminate against staff and students on the basis of their religion or belief and to teach a partial religious education curriculum; calls for religious education to be objective, balanced and fair; welcomes the positive approach taken by Accord and the breadth of its membership; and urges the Government to remove exemptions from equalities legislation for state-funded religious schools.

That this House supports Accord, the national coalition that unites religious and non-religious individuals and organisations campaigning for inclusive schools; believes that all state schools should be open to children and teachers of all backgrounds and beliefs; is concerned that current legislation permits schools with a religious character to discriminate...

That this House expresses concern at proposals within the Environmental Permitting Regulations which would charge schools to register for composting; recognises that the proposed ??50 charge would serve as a deterrent for schools considering introducing composting; believes it would impact negatively on the environmental education of children in schools and undermine the Government's current efforts to encourage the public to dispose of their waste in an environmentally-friendly manner; and urges the Government to reverse its decision to charge a composting permit on anything which is outside the private individual's garden.

That this House expresses concern at proposals within the Environmental Permitting Regulations which would charge schools to register for composting; recognises that the proposed ??50 charge would serve as a deterrent for schools considering introducing composting; believes it would impact negatively on the environmental education of children in schools and...

That this House is gravely concerned by proposals by the International Baccalaureate to move out of Cardiff to another city in Europe; notes it has been based in Wales for nearly two decades and at its headquarters in Cardiff Gate Business Park since 2001, which offers head office functions for the worldwide organisation and employs 330 highly-trained staff; notes there is no reason related to staff recruitment, quality or loyalty to justify such a move; and urges the board of the International Baccalaureate to reject proposals that will result in the disruption of such a successful organisation and the loss of 330 jobs in Cardiff.

That this House is gravely concerned by proposals by the International Baccalaureate to move out of Cardiff to another city in Europe; notes it has been based in Wales for nearly two decades and at its headquarters in Cardiff Gate Business Park since 2001, which offers head office functions for...

That this House calls on the Government to extend the concessionary bus fares scheme to allow everyone under 16 years and those able to prove they are in full-time education or on a work-based learning scheme free travel on buses nationwide; notes the application and success of such a scheme for those who live in London boroughs; and recognises the positive outcomes of such a scheme in offering greater social inclusion and increased mobility for those with limited incomes, a reduction of traffic on the school run and environmental benefits arising from more people making bus travel their viable routine choice.

That this House calls on the Government to extend the concessionary bus fares scheme to allow everyone under 16 years and those able to prove they are in full-time education or on a work-based learning scheme free travel on buses nationwide; notes the application and success of such a scheme...

That this House congratulates the work of the charity Schoolchildren for Children which both assists with the development of extra-curricular sporting activities at schools in the UK and provides books and other school equipment in some of the poorest countries in the world; recognises the importance of children having access to sporting activities outside of school hours; notes the recent success of athletes from across the UK at the Olympics which has created an even stronger interest in children wanting to take up sport; and wishes the charity well in its dual role of supporting sporting activity for UK children and improving the provision of education in the developing world.

That this House congratulates the work of the charity Schoolchildren for Children which both assists with the development of extra-curricular sporting activities at schools in the UK and provides books and other school equipment in some of the poorest countries in the world; recognises the importance of children having access...

That this House welcomes the British Red Cross report, Life. Live It, on first aid in schools and the launch of its first aid education resource for teachers; notes that every year there are three million attendances at hospitals across the United Kingdom in cases where first aid skills could help; shares the view that in many health emergencies, interventions in the first few minutes, before the emergency services arrive, can make a crucial difference to the outcome of the casualty; believes that people in the UK should have basic first aid knowledge; further notes the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority consultation on the curriculum in secondary schools; and requests the Government to consider ways of promoting first aid education in schools.

That this House welcomes the British Red Cross report, Life. Live It, on first aid in schools and the launch of its first aid education resource for teachers; notes that every year there are three million attendances at hospitals across the United Kingdom in cases where first aid skills could...

That this House congratulates the work of the charity Schoolchildren for Children which both assists with the development of extra-curricular sporting activities at schools in the UK and provides books and other school equipment in some of the poorest countries in the world; recognises the importance of children having access to sporting activities outside of school hours; notes the recent success of athletes from across the UK at the Olympics which has created an even stronger interest in children wanting to take up sport; and wishes the charity well in its dual role of supporting sporting activity for UK children and improving the provision of education in the developing world.

That this House congratulates the work of the charity Schoolchildren for Children which both assists with the development of extra-curricular sporting activities at schools in the UK and provides books and other school equipment in some of the poorest countries in the world; recognises the importance of children having access...

That this House congratulates and pays tribute to the staff, pupils and governors of John F. Kennedy Primary and Nursery School, Washington, on being accredited for outstanding development in the International School Awards 2008; and commends the school for giving pupils a greater understanding of other nations.

That this House congratulates and pays tribute to the staff, pupils and governors of John F. Kennedy Primary and Nursery School, Washington, on being accredited for outstanding development in the International School Awards 2008; and commends the school for giving pupils a greater understanding of other nations.

That this House looks forward to anti-bullying week from 17th to 21st November 2008 as a means of stating that bullying is unacceptable; supports the Beatbullying, Everyone is Different wristband campaign; agrees with the south London-based charity that bullying runs against the British sense of fair play, justice and respect; and pays tribute to the empowerment that Beatbullying gives to young people to lead anti-bullying campaigns.

That this House looks forward to anti-bullying week from 17th to 21st November 2008 as a means of stating that bullying is unacceptable; supports the Beatbullying, Everyone is Different wristband campaign; agrees with the south London-based charity that bullying runs against the British sense of fair play, justice and respect;...

That this House deplores the proposal by Liverpool City Council to close Croxteth Community Comprehensive School in 2010; recognises the stabilising effect the school has in servicing the Croxteth and Norris Green areas of north east Liverpool, an area characterised by high levels of social deprivation, low skill employment and a high incidence of unemployment; is aware of recent serious incidents involving youth crime and anti-social behaviour in that area; realises that the proposal to close this school will leave these two districts without a single state secondary school and will deliver a blow to the confidence of the local community struggling to overcome recent desperate problems; and calls on Liverpool City Council to withdraw its proposal and for HM Government to investigate the matter.

That this House deplores the proposal by Liverpool City Council to close Croxteth Community Comprehensive School in 2010; recognises the stabilising effect the school has in servicing the Croxteth and Norris Green areas of north east Liverpool, an area characterised by high levels of social deprivation, low skill employment and...

That this House applauds the aim of the Welsh Assembly Government of promoting healthier food in schools; is concerned however that councils may be taking this welcome initiative too far by banning Marmite in breakfast clubs in schools; recognises that Marmite is relatively high in salt; but asks for common sense to be applied as a scraping of marmite or equivalent yeast-based spread can be part of a balanced diet, and a ban may be seen as counter productive in the quest for healthy living as it produces negative publicity.

That this House applauds the aim of the Welsh Assembly Government of promoting healthier food in schools; is concerned however that councils may be taking this welcome initiative too far by banning Marmite in breakfast clubs in schools; recognises that Marmite is relatively high in salt; but asks for common...

That this House is alarmed by reports that the Department for Children, Schools and Families has employed the headhunting firm Veredus to recruit headteachers to work in academy schools under a completely separate procedure from normal recruitment processes; deplores the detrimental impact this will have on the recruitment of headteachers in the maintained sector, which is already experiencing recruitment difficulties; therefore calls on the Government to impose a moratorium on the academies programme while an assessment of the impact of private headhunting on neighbouring schools is carried out; and welcomes the decision of the Trades Union Congress to affiliate to the Anti-Academies Alliance and to join in its excellent work of opposing the privatisation of secondary schools.

That this House is alarmed by reports that the Department for Children, Schools and Families has employed the headhunting firm Veredus to recruit headteachers to work in academy schools under a completely separate procedure from normal recruitment processes; deplores the detrimental impact this will have on the recruitment of headteachers...

That this House applauds the Royal Society of Chemistry for its commitment to encourage an interest in science among young people; applauds the efforts that are being made throughout the United Kingdom, especially by teachers in primary and secondary schools, to revitalise the science curriculum and to convey the excitement of science to pupils and students; notes that on 14th October the prestigious RSC Bill Bryson Science Prize will be presented by the celebrated author himself, together with the RSC President Professor Dave Garner FRSC FRS, to Kate Marks and Sophie Jarvis (primary school winners) of St Joseph's School Cornwall supported by their teacher Susan Marks, to Thomas Williams (secondary school winner) of St Gregory's Catholic High School Warrington supported by his teacher Mr Abram, and to Emily Bullman (overall winner) of Walthamstow Hall School in Kent supported by her teacher Dr Susan Wilkinson; further applauds the students' outstanding entries in the RSC Bill Bryson science competition; and further notes the unrivalled contribution that the study of chemistry and the chemical sciences have made and continue to make to the understanding of nature, to the quality of life, and to the knowledge economy of the 21st century.

That this House applauds the Royal Society of Chemistry for its commitment to encourage an interest in science among young people; applauds the efforts that are being made throughout the United Kingdom, especially by teachers in primary and secondary schools, to revitalise the science curriculum and to convey the excitement...

That this House congratulates the UK on signing the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse; notes that Article 6 of the Convention states that each party shall take the necessary legislative or other measures to ensure that children, during primary and secondary education, receive information on the risks of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, as well as on the means to protect themselves, adapted to their evolving capacity and this information, provided in collaboration with parents, where appropriate, shall be given within a more general context of information on sexuality and shall pay special attention to situations of risk, especially those involving the use of new information and communication technologies; and therefore calls on the Government to make age-appropriate, gender-sensitive sex and relationship education compulsory both through legislative proposals and its current review of sex and relationship education delivery.

That this House congratulates the UK on signing the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse; notes that Article 6 of the Convention states that each party shall take the necessary legislative or other measures to ensure that children, during primary and...

That this House congratulates Glasgow Rangers Football Club on establishing a partnership with UNICEF which will see the Rangers Charity Foundation raising ??300,000 by 2011 to fund a UNICEF education programme in India called Reducing the Gender Gap: Quality Education for Girls, which will focus on improving the quality of children's education and working to ensure that all children, especially girls and those from disadvantaged or socially excluded backgrounds, have access to schools in the Indian states of Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajastan, Gujurat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala; further notes that the five other football clubs which have a partnership with UNICEF are Manchester United, Barcelona, Boca Juniors, Feyenoord and AC Milan; and welcomes this example of a great Scottish institution looking beyond its own midden to help the less fortunate elsewhere in the world.

That this House congratulates Glasgow Rangers Football Club on establishing a partnership with UNICEF which will see the Rangers Charity Foundation raising ??300,000 by 2011 to fund a UNICEF education programme in India called Reducing the Gender Gap: Quality Education for Girls, which will focus on improving the quality of...

That this House congratulates Ysgol Llwyn Yr Eos in Penparcau in Aberystwyth on its Junior Artisan Club, now in its eighth year, which provides a vocational curriculum for all Year 6 pupils, developing skills in carpentry, cookery, horticulture, DIY and textiles; recognises that by teaching children valuable skills with the help of trained professionals, standards of behaviour, motivation and self-esteem can be raised across the board; notes that each pupil completing a placement will be presented with a certificate of achievement; and believes that by encouraging children to have confidence in their abilities the scheme provides an important contribution towards raising academic standards within the school.

That this House congratulates Ysgol Llwyn Yr Eos in Penparcau in Aberystwyth on its Junior Artisan Club, now in its eighth year, which provides a vocational curriculum for all Year 6 pupils, developing skills in carpentry, cookery, horticulture, DIY and textiles; recognises that by teaching children valuable skills with the...

That this House calls on the Government to extend the concessionary bus fares scheme to allow everyone under 16 years and those able to prove they are in full-time education or on a work-based learning scheme free travel on buses nationwide; notes the application and success of such a scheme for those who live in London boroughs; and recognises the positive outcomes of such a scheme, in offering greater social inclusion and increased mobility for those with limited incomes, reduction of traffic on the school run and the environmental benefits arising from more people making bus travel their viable routine choice.

That this House calls on the Government to extend the concessionary bus fares scheme to allow everyone under 16 years and those able to prove they are in full-time education or on a work-based learning scheme free travel on buses nationwide; notes the application and success of such a scheme...

That this House welcomes the launch of the Bercow Review of services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs; recognises that the Review is an attempt to support a wide range of children that require targeted and specialist support, along with the up to 50 per cent. of children in some deprived parts of the UK who start primary school with delayed language; notes that for too long children's communication has been overlooked; and urges the Government to look at the report's recommendations, particularly those that aim to improve provision in the early years, embed speech, language and communication into the national curriculum, improve joint working between local agencies through Children's Trusts, develop the skills of the entire children's workforce, give parents and families more information about where and how to get help and advice and to engage with the third sector as a key partner to deliver improved outcomes for children.

That this House welcomes the launch of the Bercow Review of services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs; recognises that the Review is an attempt to support a wide range of children that require targeted and specialist support, along with the up to 50 per...

That this House notes that June is Gypsy Roma Traveller history month and that it is the first such celebration to be fully supported and endorsed by the Government and provides a tremendous opportunity for children in our schools to hear of the traditions of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers; and congratulates the large number of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, libraries, schools, teachers and others who have worked hard to organise events around the country.

That this House notes that June is Gypsy Roma Traveller history month and that it is the first such celebration to be fully supported and endorsed by the Government and provides a tremendous opportunity for children in our schools to hear of the traditions of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers; and...

That this House celebrates the achievement of Highgate School in winning the Royal Society of Chemistry's Top of the Bench competition in 2008; notes that secondary school students from 27 schools across the United Kingdom contested the 2008 nationwide competition, the final of which was held in the Science Museum, London; further notes that the competition involved both a knowledge test, a research exercise involving the Science Museum's galleries, and a team problem-solving exercise held in Imperial College science laboratories; congratulates the winning students Charlie Bruce, Jack Saville, David Ooi and Max Jamilly and their chemistry teacher Mr Kamaljit Bains; and applauds the constructive role that the Top of the Bench competition continues to have in encouraging an interest in science amongst young people.

That this House celebrates the achievement of Highgate School in winning the Royal Society of Chemistry's Top of the Bench competition in 2008; notes that secondary school students from 27 schools across the United Kingdom contested the 2008 nationwide competition, the final of which was held in the Science Museum,...

That this House notes the launch of the Child Poverty Action Group's 2 Skint 4 School campaign; supports the principle of the campaign that every child deserves a fair chance to learn; welcomes the attention drawn by the campaign to the additional challenges Britain's poorest children face in the education system; and calls on the Government to give greater recognition to the importance of progress on the eradication of child poverty to the improvement of education outcomes and achievement in school.

That this House notes the launch of the Child Poverty Action Group's 2 Skint 4 School campaign; supports the principle of the campaign that every child deserves a fair chance to learn; welcomes the attention drawn by the campaign to the additional challenges Britain's poorest children face in the education...

That this House regrets the Government's crude and destabilising threat to close 638 English secondary schools which have failed to hit an examination target imposed retrospectively; notes that the 638 schools include a large number of academies and other rapidly improving schools; draws attention to the strong link between school results and school catchment which means that 55 per cent. of schools in the poorest areas fail to hit the target while only two per cent. miss the target in the most affluent catchments; expresses concern that the publicity achieved by the Government may make it more difficult to attract good staff and leadership to these schools, as well as deterring potential parents; and calls for a more sophisticated approach to assessing school performance and securing a much needed improvement in standards.

That this House regrets the Government's crude and destabilising threat to close 638 English secondary schools which have failed to hit an examination target imposed retrospectively; notes that the 638 schools include a large number of academies and other rapidly improving schools; draws attention to the strong link between school...

That this House is dismayed that a deeply flawed out of date list has been unnecessarily published which has been widely interpreted by the media as labelling over 600 secondary schools as failing their pupils; notes that included on the list are 26 privatised academy schools, including the much-vaunted Harris Academy, demonstrating that privatisation is not a solution to the educational disadvantage often deeply rooted in our unequal society; condemns the list for failing to recognise the hard and diligent work of teachers, parents and pupils in some of England's most deprived communities; and asks the Secretary of State to withdraw the list until further discussions have been held with appropriate local authorities in order to correct the inaccuracies.

That this House is dismayed that a deeply flawed out of date list has been unnecessarily published which has been widely interpreted by the media as labelling over 600 secondary schools as failing their pupils; notes that included on the list are 26 privatised academy schools, including the much-vaunted Harris...

That this House recognises the importance of access to playing fields in helping to tackle rising levels of obesity, strengthen communities and cut crime; notes with concern that the nation's playing fields are still being sold off at an alarming rate; further notes that, every nine days, plans to build over a playing field are accepted even though Sport England warns that this will have a negative impact on local sporting provision; condemns the continued sell-off of smaller playing fields, the size of half a football pitch, at a rate of almost one a day, despite the Government's promise made in 2002 to introduce protection for them; is deeply concerned that there is currently a loophole in the law that allows landowners to deliberately prevent people using a playing field for five years and then sell it off without proper consultation; and, consequently, calls on the Government to close this loophole and honour its promise to give smaller fields the same protection as larger ones to ensure that the UK's playing fields are protected for generations to come.

That this House recognises the importance of access to playing fields in helping to tackle rising levels of obesity, strengthen communities and cut crime; notes with concern that the nation's playing fields are still being sold off at an alarming rate; further notes that, every nine days, plans to build...

That this House notes the significant contribution that residential courses make to improving educational standards, personal and social development and health amongst children and young people; congratulates the University of East London on producing a feasibility study on a proposal for a residential urban education centre at the Olympic Park for the Field Studies Council (FSC) a leading education charity, which operates 17 field centres in the UK with over 100,000 visitors attending day and residential courses each year; considers that such a centre would have a hugely positive impact on young people and their schools and families and provide great benefits to students from the whole of the UK and from overseas; further notes with interest that the FSC has particularly strong and well established links with London schools; and therefore commends the FSC's proposal for an urban education centre at the Olympic Park which aims to become a world-leading centre of excellence in urban studies, offering many community-based education links whilst also specialising in education for sustainable development.

That this House notes the significant contribution that residential courses make to improving educational standards, personal and social development and health amongst children and young people; congratulates the University of East London on producing a feasibility study on a proposal for a residential urban education centre at the Olympic Park...

That this House welcomes the Learning Along the Food Chain DVD commissioned by Organic Centre Wales and FACE Wales, which seeks to promote understanding of how food is produced amongst school students, using farm visits, gardening and cooking to promote healthy eating and care for the environment; applauds Nick Rebbeck of Learning on the Farm for producing the bilingual DVD; notes that as demand for locally sourced food increases it is important that children are made aware of the work done by farms to provide food; and congratulates everyone involved with the Learning Along the Food Chain project.

That this House welcomes the Learning Along the Food Chain DVD commissioned by Organic Centre Wales and FACE Wales, which seeks to promote understanding of how food is produced amongst school students, using farm visits, gardening and cooking to promote healthy eating and care for the environment; applauds Nick Rebbeck...

That this House notes that charges for additional services levied by companies managing schools under private finance initiative contracts are not constrained either by the market or contractually; further notes that this leads to charges of over ??100 per hour for access to a changing room on Saturdays; recognises that this excessive cost prevents children from participating in additional sport on Saturdays; and calls for the Government to review its policies from this perspective.

That this House notes that charges for additional services levied by companies managing schools under private finance initiative contracts are not constrained either by the market or contractually; further notes that this leads to charges of over ??100 per hour for access to a changing room on Saturdays; recognises that...

That this House welcomes Xtraordinary Week, run by charitable initiative Xtraordinary People, to raise awareness and funds to support dyslexia training in schools; notes with concern the shocking findings of a recent report, commissioned by Xtraordinary People's No To Failure project and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which found evidence of dyslexia in 55 per cent. of children failing SATs at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2; further notes the results of a recent report which suggests that inappropriate teaching for children with dyslexia costs the country billions of pounds and wastes the potential of millions of children; and calls on the Government to support Xtraordinary Week and to take action to ensure that every school in England has a specialist dyslexia/specific learning difficulties trained teacher.

That this House welcomes Xtraordinary Week, run by charitable initiative Xtraordinary People, to raise awareness and funds to support dyslexia training in schools; notes with concern the shocking findings of a recent report, commissioned by Xtraordinary People's No To Failure project and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which...

That this House notes the latest truancy statistics identifying an increase in children classified as persistent truants; declines to rely on statistics that show an improvement overall in exam results; recognises that, while exam results are improving, there is a risk of an increased polarisation as a substantial number of pupils make less progress; and notes that a community-wide approach must be implemented by communicating with parents and increasing the number and responsibility of welfare officers in cases of persistent truancy.

That this House notes the latest truancy statistics identifying an increase in children classified as persistent truants; declines to rely on statistics that show an improvement overall in exam results; recognises that, while exam results are improving, there is a risk of an increased polarisation as a substantial number of...

That this House congratulates Lurgan Junior High School under-12 football team on winning the Northern Ireland Cup; takes note that this is the first occasion in the school's history that it has won this tournament; further congratulates Kyle Cousins on scoring a hat-trick in the final; and offers its gratitude to all schoolteachers and volunteers who give of their time to encourage young people to participate in sporting activity.

That this House congratulates Lurgan Junior High School under-12 football team on winning the Northern Ireland Cup; takes note that this is the first occasion in the school's history that it has won this tournament; further congratulates Kyle Cousins on scoring a hat-trick in the final; and offers its gratitude...

That this House congratulates the West Bromwich Building Society and its partner, the Mercian Trust, on launching the Awesum Challenge, an online free teaching resource designed to raise the mathematical attainment and financial literacy of eight to 11 year olds, further enhancing the skills and confidence of young people in handling money; and urges the Government to work with the West Bromwich Building Society, and other qualified institutions, in promoting financial education for young people.

That this House congratulates the West Bromwich Building Society and its partner, the Mercian Trust, on launching the Awesum Challenge, an online free teaching resource designed to raise the mathematical attainment and financial literacy of eight to 11 year olds, further enhancing the skills and confidence of young people in...

That this House recognises that despite equality legislation, lesbian and gay people are still subject to discrimination and abuse on account of their sexuality in the United Kingdom; notes the recent research by Stonewall that found that nearly one in five lesbian and gay people has experienced homophobic bullying in the workplace during the last five years and suggests that homophobic bullying in schools is on the increase; further notes that the research found that many lesbian and gay people felt they were not treated the same as heterosexual people in politics, education, the justice system, and in health and social care; and calls on the Government to take steps to tackle the continuing problem of homophobic bullying and to introduce the same duty on public bodies to promote equality of service for gay people that already exists for ethnicity, gender and disability.

That this House recognises that despite equality legislation, lesbian and gay people are still subject to discrimination and abuse on account of their sexuality in the United Kingdom; notes the recent research by Stonewall that found that nearly one in five lesbian and gay people has experienced homophobic bullying in...

That this House welcomes the launch, with the support of the Daily Mirror newspaper, of the FULL campaign for free, universal, locally-sourced lunches in UK schools; believes that introducing free, hot and healthy school meals and stay on site policies would be a major step in the fight against child obesity, remove the stigma of free school meals for some children, increase educational achievement, encourage an environmentally sustainable approach to school food, discourage pupils from eating junk food and cut nuisance behaviour in local communities at lunchtimes; notes academic research which shows a direct link between diet and educational attainment; recognises that obesity is estimated to cost the public purse ??3.5 billion a year; believes that the benefits of free school meals for all would far outweigh the cost; and urges the Government to make a full assessment of universal free school meals through the establishment of pilots.

That this House welcomes the launch, with the support of the Daily Mirror newspaper, of the FULL campaign for free, universal, locally-sourced lunches in UK schools; believes that introducing free, hot and healthy school meals and stay on site policies would be a major step in the fight against child...

That this House congratulates the Joint Epilepsy Council on its campaign to ensure that the Department for Children, Schools and Families recognises epilepsy as a condition that causes special educational needs (SEN); notes with concern that children and young people with epilepsy routinely experience potential health, learning, behavioural and emotional needs as a direct result of their epilepsy; regrets that around two-thirds of children and young people with epilepsy who attend mainstream schools are believed to underachieve academically; further notes that this equates to 40,000 affected children, given that there are 60,000 children with epilepsy in UK schools; and urges the Government to consider the needs of children and young people with epilepsy when enacting the Children's Plan commitment to improve SEN data collection.

That this House congratulates the Joint Epilepsy Council on its campaign to ensure that the Department for Children, Schools and Families recognises epilepsy as a condition that causes special educational needs (SEN); notes with concern that children and young people with epilepsy routinely experience potential health, learning, behavioural and emotional...

That this House notes the study carried out by the Child Poverty Action Group in 2000-01 on school meals, which reported the stigmatisation of families and their children through receipt of free school meals; further notes that this study also reported that by extending entitlement to free school meals the disposable income of the poorest families could rise by up to ??27 a week; and congratulates Bolton Council on its announcement of the introduction of free school meals to all starters at primary school in the first term from September 2008, with the hope that this can be extended to the full school year later.

That this House notes the study carried out by the Child Poverty Action Group in 2000-01 on school meals, which reported the stigmatisation of families and their children through receipt of free school meals; further notes that this study also reported that by extending entitlement to free school meals the...

That this House notes the publication of Adding up: The Range and Impact of School Costs on Families by the School Costs Coalition; further notes that the report reveals restrictive supply arrangements making school uniforms unaffordable, restrictive costs for learning materials such as books, sports kits and art equipment and disadvantaged pupils missing school trips due to charges and widespread bad practice on making information available to pupils and parents when payments are voluntary and help with costs is available; expresses concern that over 70 per cent. of both primary and secondary school parent respondents find it difficult to meet all the costs associated with their child's education, with many experiencing distress from high school cost demands; is further concerned at reports that pupils whose families are unable to meet school costs are frequently bullied and disciplined as a consequence; recognises the need to address school costs to help eliminate child poverty and improve educational attainment; calls on schools and local authorities to monitor charging policies, disseminate good practice and make sure that parents are made aware of help with costs in non-stigmatising ways; and calls on the Government to make the school costs requirements of the Admissions Code enforceable in their own right, with extension of powers to the Schools Adjudicator to allow parents to make direct complaints where school costs requirements are not complied with, and to consider a statutory duty on local authorities to provide uniform grants for families in receipt of maximum child tax credit.

That this House notes the publication of Adding up: The Range and Impact of School Costs on Families by the School Costs Coalition; further notes that the report reveals restrictive supply arrangements making school uniforms unaffordable, restrictive costs for learning materials such as books, sports kits and art equipment and...

That this House congratulates Cardinal Hume and Thomas Hepburn schools in Gateshead on being the 19th and 33rd most improved schools in the country since 2004 based on key stage 3 results; echoes the praise for education in Gateshead given by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families; and commends the tireless effort and commitment shown by pupils, parents and teachers to deliver these improvements.

That this House congratulates Cardinal Hume and Thomas Hepburn schools in Gateshead on being the 19th and 33rd most improved schools in the country since 2004 based on key stage 3 results; echoes the praise for education in Gateshead given by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families;...

That this House congratulates St Bedes RC Primary School in Jarrow on its outstanding achievements at the 2008 World Maths Day competition; recognises the wonderful achievement from year 6 pupils to finish first out of all the schools in the North East and second in the United Kingdom, earning its place in the Class Hall of Fame; and commends the incredible work by staff, pupils and everyone associated with St Bedes RC Primary School to compete against more than one million students and 20,000 schools and to achieve such pleasing results.

That this House congratulates St Bedes RC Primary School in Jarrow on its outstanding achievements at the 2008 World Maths Day competition; recognises the wonderful achievement from year 6 pupils to finish first out of all the schools in the North East and second in the United Kingdom, earning its...

That this House acknowledges the Pupils Learning in Aviation Noise Environments (PLANE) campaign to highlight the impact of aircraft noise on children being educated in west London schools in proximity to and/or under flight paths to Heathrow Airport; expresses deep concern at the inadequate provision of acoustic noise insulation for local classrooms; notes that proposals for a third runway at Heathrow Airport and ending runway alternation, as outlined in the Department for Transport consultation, Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport, would seriously exacerbate the problem of aircraft noise impacts on school children and possibly affect the future educational achievement of children being educated in some west London schools; and calls upon the Government to provide adequate statutory measures to address and alleviate the impact of aviation noise impacts on local children in the classrooms.

That this House acknowledges the Pupils Learning in Aviation Noise Environments (PLANE) campaign to highlight the impact of aircraft noise on children being educated in west London schools in proximity to and/or under flight paths to Heathrow Airport; expresses deep concern at the inadequate provision of acoustic noise insulation for...

That this House congratulates the inspirational Gareth Malone, Helen Collins, the staff and particularly the boys of Lancaster School for their commitment, dedication and courage during the making of the enthralling television programmes, for their outstanding achievements in representing the school and the City of Leicester at the Royal Albert Hall, for giving such great pleasure to so many people and, through their common endeavour, for proving that boys do sing.

That this House congratulates the inspirational Gareth Malone, Helen Collins, the staff and particularly the boys of Lancaster School for their commitment, dedication and courage during the making of the enthralling television programmes, for their outstanding achievements in representing the school and the City of Leicester at the Royal Albert...

That this House welcomes the Government's decision to subsidise the Holocaust Educational Trust's (HET) programme of trips to Auschwitz for school children; believes these visits are a vital part of the education programme to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten; further believes these visits help prevent such genocide from happening again; notes that many people were offended by the insensitive, thoughtless and offensive claim in a Conservative document that trips to Auschwitz are a gimmick; and asks the right hon. Member for Witney to confirm that, if elected to Government, a Conservative administration would continue to provide the financial subsidy at the same level for the HET's trips to Auschwitz programme.

That this House welcomes the Government's decision to subsidise the Holocaust Educational Trust's (HET) programme of trips to Auschwitz for school children; believes these visits are a vital part of the education programme to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten; further believes these visits help prevent such...

That this House notes that at least 72 million children worldwide do not receive any primary education and that 57 per cent. of these children are girls and 33 per cent. have a disability; further notes the Millennium Development Goal to achieve universal primary education by 2015 and is dismayed that according to the UN's most recent assessment the international community will not meet this target in sub-Saharan Africa and across Asia; supports the Global Campaign for Education and its belief that education is a universal human right and the key to poverty alleviation and sustainable human development; and therefore calls on the Government and the international community to redouble their efforts towards achieving free access to primary education worldwide by 2015.

That this House notes that at least 72 million children worldwide do not receive any primary education and that 57 per cent. of these children are girls and 33 per cent. have a disability; further notes the Millennium Development Goal to achieve universal primary education by 2015 and is dismayed...

That this House notes with concern the suspension of Sarika Singh from Aberdare Girls School in Wales for wearing the Sikh Kara, a religious steel bracelet; further notes that the Kara is one of the five Ks of the Khalsa in the Sikh religion and is a symbol of restraint and gentility, a symbol that a Sikh is linked to the Guru, a reminder that a Sikh should not do anything of which the Guru would not approve, a symbol of God having no beginning or end, and a symbol of permanent bonding to the community, being a link in the chain of Khalsa Sikhs (the word for link is kari); notes that the Kara is made of steel, rather than gold or silver, because it is not an ornament; believes that the continued suspension of Sarika Singh under the mistaken belief that the Kara is a piece of jewellery is a flagrant disregard for her freedom of religious conscience; further believes that she should not be made to choose between her faith and her education; considers that Sarika should be allowed to return to school immediately and be permitted to wear her Kara as an expression of her faith; and recommends that the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Welsh Assembly should issue guidance to schools so that this situation is not repeated.

That this House notes with concern the suspension of Sarika Singh from Aberdare Girls School in Wales for wearing the Sikh Kara, a religious steel bracelet; further notes that the Kara is one of the five Ks of the Khalsa in the Sikh religion and is a symbol of restraint...

That this House congratulates the Anti-Academies Alliance on publishing its report of the parliamentary inquiry into school academies informed by the evidence of professionals and others working in academies, community campaigners, trade unions and educationalists, all concerned that the take-over of schools by outside commercial interests and religious orders is contrary to good equal opportunity practice in education, is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act and is publishing insufficient detail on academy results, is creating unfair funding between schools, is operating admission and exclusion policies which skew intakes, is denying the protection of general education law to academy pupils and parents, is undermining local democracy and community solidarity, that the governance arrangements allow sponsors to appoint the majority of governors in perpetuity who are rarely representative of the school community, that the staff terms and conditions are leading to higher turnover rates and discriminatory employment practices and that the sponsor has almost absolute power once a school becomes an academy; and calls on the Government to take full account of the findings of the inquiry and to make urgent moves to implement them.

That this House congratulates the Anti-Academies Alliance on publishing its report of the parliamentary inquiry into school academies informed by the evidence of professionals and others working in academies, community campaigners, trade unions and educationalists, all concerned that the take-over of schools by outside commercial interests and religious orders is...

That this House recognises the importance of village schools to their communities; notes that plans to close village schools across the UK represent yet another example of the systematic dismantling of the rural way of life; and calls on the Government to honour its pledge made in 1998 for the protection of village schools and to provide local authorities with the requisite support.

That this House recognises the importance of village schools to their communities; notes that plans to close village schools across the UK represent yet another example of the systematic dismantling of the rural way of life; and calls on the Government to honour its pledge made in 1998 for the...

That this House urges the Government to host an open, public and extended debate on the role of single faith schools in the UK to examine the relevance, sustainability and equity of such schools in the 21st century, and the contribution they make to social cohesion or social division, whether taxpayers whose children may not attend such schools should continue to support them or if they should finance themselves, whether they should be equally open to those of all religions and none or be able to discriminate and select their intake, and any other questions which the debate will bring forward, and in 18 months time to present a report with a range of proposals for debate and decision by Parliament.

That this House urges the Government to host an open, public and extended debate on the role of single faith schools in the UK to examine the relevance, sustainability and equity of such schools in the 21st century, and the contribution they make to social cohesion or social division, whether...

That this House recognises that there is currently insufficient information available to analyse outcomes for school pupils with special educational needs; welcomes the Special Education Needs (Information) Private Members' Bill which aims to improve the provision and publication of such information by amending the Education Act 1996 to ensure that the efficiency of schools in delivering positive outcomes for pupils with special educational needs is recorded and published annually; and believes that this would enable parents to make informed choices about their children's education as well as a more informed assessment of which special educational needs policies are achieving the best results, thus building a case for identifying and introducing best practice.

That this House recognises that there is currently insufficient information available to analyse outcomes for school pupils with special educational needs; welcomes the Special Education Needs (Information) Private Members' Bill which aims to improve the provision and publication of such information by amending the Education Act 1996 to ensure that...

That this House notes the statement made by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills, the hon. Member for Gloucester, in March that only 32.9 per cent. of deaf pupils in England achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C, compared with 57.1 per cent. of all children, an attainment gap of more than 24 percentage points; expresses its concern that many deaf children are under-achieving; further notes that, as deafness is not a learning disability, there is no reason why deaf children should not achieve at the same rate as their hearing peers of similar cognitive abilities; welcomes the decisions by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to begin publishing attainment data for children with special educational needs, broken down by type of special eduactional need and local authority area, and to initiate a research project on the wide variations between local authority areas in meeting special educational needs; regrets that the Government chose not to include the attainment of deaf and disabled children in the set of national public service agreement priority indicators or to make it a statutory performance indicator within the local government national indicator set for 2008 to 2011, thereby missing an opportunity to make tackling under-achievement by deaf children a central and local government priority; and calls on the Government to commit to closing the attainment gap between deaf children and their hearing peers and to reverse the decision not to include educational attainment of deaf children as part of the national public service agreement priority indicators for 2008 to 2011.

That this House notes the statement made by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills, the hon. Member for Gloucester, in March that only 32.9 per cent. of deaf pupils in England achieved five GCSEs at grades A* to C, compared with 57.1 per cent. of all...

That this House regrets the decision to erect a heavy-grade 25 feet tall security fence in the playground of Hazelwood Integrated Primary School in North Belfast at a cost of ??250,000; urges a full review of the security fence at Hazelwood a year after its construction to ensure this temporary measure does not join so many others in becoming permanent; believes that the cost of the Hazelwood fence is a sad symbol of wider costs of sectarianism in Northern Ireland; notes that in 2006 the Government commissioned Deloitte to produce a report entitled Research into the Financial Cost of the Northern Ireland Divide and that the report of April 2007 revealed that almost ??1.5 billion on policing, education, housing, health and other provisions is spent annually from the public purse on duplicated services; and urges policy-makers to encourage and facilitate integrated education, particularly in teacher training, as well as collaboration between different school sectors as part of concerted and longer-term efforts to foster reconciliation and understanding between different communities in Northern Ireland and save public money.

That this House regrets the decision to erect a heavy-grade 25 feet tall security fence in the playground of Hazelwood Integrated Primary School in North Belfast at a cost of ??250,000; urges a full review of the security fence at Hazelwood a year after its construction to ensure this temporary...

That this House marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, celebrating survivors of childhood cancer; notes that children and young people stand a better chance than ever of surviving cancer, but can suffer physical and emotional effects of cancer or treatment throughout their lives; welcomes the announcement of the new National Cancer Survivorship Initiative; notes that children and young people should receive the educational support they need during treatment for cancer, and in transition back to school; notes that survivors of childhood cancer can suffer late effects which impact on their learning capacity and educational attainment and which demand timely and effective special educational needs support from schools; hopes that plans to raise the school leaving age to 18 years will be extended to include out of school education support for young people with cancer; and congratulates CLIC Sargent on its work to help survivors of childhood cancer to get their lives back.

That this House marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, celebrating survivors of childhood cancer; notes that children and young people stand a better chance than ever of surviving cancer, but can suffer physical and emotional effects of cancer or treatment throughout their lives; welcomes the announcement of the new National Cancer...

That this House takes serious note of the continued refusal of the Governing Body of Aberdare Girls' School to permit a 14 year-old Sikh girl from wearing to school her Kara, a small Sikh bangle that is an article of her faith; is concerned to learn the punishment for the girl for her insistence on wearing her modest Kara was at first keeping her in isolation for nine weeks and then on 5th November, excluding her from school; and calls upon the UK Government to work with the Welsh Assembly and to do everything within its power to ensure the girl is immediately reinstated as her treatment clearly amounts to discrimination and contravenes the Race Relations Act 1976.

That this House takes serious note of the continued refusal of the Governing Body of Aberdare Girls' School to permit a 14 year-old Sikh girl from wearing to school her Kara, a small Sikh bangle that is an article of her faith; is concerned to learn the punishment for the...

That this House welcomes the University of Oxford Black Boys Can Programme which is run in conjunction with the National Black Boys Can Association, the first four year programme of which commenced at St Anne's College, Oxford on 26th October; notes that this builds on previous initiatives between the National Black Boys Can Association and the University of Oxford; welcomes the programme's key aim of encouraging more black boys to enter university education through raising their aspirations and academic attainment, particularly in the national curriculum subjects of mathematics, English and science; notes that programme students are assigned Oxford undergraduate mentors and the parents of the programme student are also engaged fully in supporting their sons' education; notes that the programme students were drawn from black boys in years 9 and 10 from across the UK who have the potential to achieve well above the national averages at GCSE; wishes the 26 students in this year's programme every success; and encourages more higher education institutions in the UK to participate in such schemes.

That this House welcomes the University of Oxford Black Boys Can Programme which is run in conjunction with the National Black Boys Can Association, the first four year programme of which commenced at St Anne's College, Oxford on 26th October; notes that this builds on previous initiatives between the National...

That this House welcomes the work of Drugsline, the independent drugs crisis, information and support charity; praises their education outreach programme for schools team, comprised of recovering addicts and those who work in frontline addiction services who inspire the trust and confidence of the young people they visit; notes that in the academic year 2006-07 the charity saw over 30,000 students aged eight to 18 and aims to reach 50,000 in 2007-08; notes that charities such as Drugsline remain massively under-resourced with little or no Government funding; and calls on the Government to give serious consideration to adequately funding preventative drugs education programmes such as Drugsline.

That this House welcomes the work of Drugsline, the independent drugs crisis, information and support charity; praises their education outreach programme for schools team, comprised of recovering addicts and those who work in frontline addiction services who inspire the trust and confidence of the young people they visit; notes that...

That this House notes that the United Kingdom has the highest levels of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe; acknowledges that for every 1,000 births between 2000 and 2005, 27 were to those under the age of 19 years, while the figure in France was just eight; further acknowledges that among 16 to 19-year-olds diagnoses of herpes rose by 13 per cent. and those of genital warts increased by six per cent. between 2005 and 2006; further notes that of more than 20,000 teenagers questioned about sex education, more than half rated the teaching in school as poor, very poor or merely average and only a quarter said it was good; joins the United Kingdom Youth Parliament in calling for sex and relationship courses to be made a statutory part of personal, social and health education; and calls for trained staff to delivery such courses.

That this House notes that the United Kingdom has the highest levels of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe; acknowledges that for every 1,000 births between 2000 and 2005, 27 were to those under the age of 19 years, while the figure in France was just eight; further acknowledges that among...

That this House welcomes the Parliamentary launch on 3rd December of the National Union of Teachers manifesto on education, A Good Local School for Every Child and for Every Community; welcomes the proposals on encouraging international co-operation and the sharing of ideas in education, increasing per pupil funding in state schools to match that in private schools, promoting local accountability and community cohesion, giving greater voice to young people in schools and colleges, and improving initial training and professional development for teachers; and calls on the Government to give serious consideration to the document.

That this House welcomes the Parliamentary launch on 3rd December of the National Union of Teachers manifesto on education, A Good Local School for Every Child and for Every Community; welcomes the proposals on encouraging international co-operation and the sharing of ideas in education, increasing per pupil funding in state...

That this House is dismayed to learn that the Harris Group of South London Academies is offering inter alia, cut price Carpetright Company carpets to its teachers in attempts to recruit and retain staff; believes this demeans the ethos of the education service and is a regrettable consequence of handing over the ownership and management of schools to people unsuited to the serious responsibility of educating young people.

That this House is dismayed to learn that the Harris Group of South London Academies is offering inter alia, cut price Carpetright Company carpets to its teachers in attempts to recruit and retain staff; believes this demeans the ethos of the education service and is a regrettable consequence of handing...

That this House congratulates SADS UK on organising, training and donating 17 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to schools in the UK; notes that a recent study by the American Heart Association shows that, on average, for every 111 schools, there is at least one school-based cardiac arrest each year; and therefore calls on the Government to bring forward a strategy for including AEDs in all schools to help save lives.

That this House congratulates SADS UK on organising, training and donating 17 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to schools in the UK; notes that a recent study by the American Heart Association shows that, on average, for every 111 schools, there is at least one school-based cardiac arrest each year; and...