Results 1-20 of 3,927 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Vernon Coaker

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: Our brief discussion on this group of amendments has been useful and interesting. Let me repeat and put on record that academies are an essential part of the Government's educational reform programme. They play a significant role in the improvement of educational standards in many of the poorest areas of our country and they have been, in most part, very successful. The fact that we now have...

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: The point I am making is that we want to academies to be the solution where that is appropriate, and we need to overcome any obstacles to that. The only point I am making to the hon. Gentleman is that it is not just Labour authorities that are sometimes standing in the way of the academy solution. The Secretary of State has been very clear that academies are an important solution to the...

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: In our discussions, local authorities constantly talk to us about the performance of schools in their areas. As the hon. Gentleman will know, we have said just recently that what he suggests is not acceptable for the academies in the national challenge or for the one or two that are in an Ofsted category. However, we will work closely with them and with local authorities to do all we can to...

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: Performance management, ultimately, will be done by Ofsted; it will draw problems to the attention of local authorities, Ministers or the sponsors. Indeed, some academies welcome Ofsted and conduct Ofsted-type inspections of themselves to see how they are performing, and how their improvement programmes and strategies are working. We have said that the YPLA will provide better value for money...

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: I know the hon. Gentleman will agree that Dr. Moynihan is a fantastic advocate of academies and has done a tremendous job. Let me, however, quote from the same session from which the hon. Gentleman quoted. Dr. Moynihan said: "we support the establishment of the agency. It makes sense for the Department to have an agency to take care of academies. Clearly the Department was never meant to be a...

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: I am sorry if I was ambiguous; I did not mean to be. We did not ever intend the YPLA to have that function with regard to the funding agreements. What the amendment does is make the position explicit in the Bill. I never try to be ambiguous.

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: Ambiguous.

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: I beg to move, That this House agrees with Lords amendment 72.

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: Although we are all in agreement that it is not sustainable for a Government Department to continue to support and fund an increasing number of academies, there has been some concern about placing this duty within the Young People's Learning Agency, which will carry out academies functions on behalf of the Secretary of State. We have heard what the House has said, and we have also been...

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: We are trying to make it clear in the Bill that the YPLA will not be able to enter into a funding agreement to create an academy. A further concern that was raised with us related to its ability to make subordinate legislation. We are making that absolutely clear in response to the points that were raised. As I was saying, amendments 72 and 73 also ensure that a procedure is in place for...

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: I just want to be clear about the hon. Gentleman's high praise for academies, much of which I share. Is the hon. Gentleman's message to Conservative local authorities that they should work with the Government to have academies in all situations in their authorities? It would be extremely helpful to me to know if that was his advice to those authorities, so that I could speak to one or two of...

Bill Presented: Clause 75 — Academy arrangements (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: I do not doubt the hon. Gentleman's commitment to academies, or his commitment to them if he were fortunate enough to take my position. My question, however, was about his advice—precisely what he is saying—to Conservative local authorities up and down the country regarding the Government's academy programme. Is his advice and message to them that they should co-operate with the...

Bill Presented: Clause 47 — Provision of education for persons subject to youth detention (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: Some of the provisions in the Bill dealing with the sharing of information on young offenders are about improving the information that is shared between somebody leaving custody and their returning to their home authority, because sometimes that sharing has not been of a standard that we would want. That will help those young people and perhaps tackle some of the repeat problems that we have...

Bill Presented: Clause 47 — Provision of education for persons subject to youth detention (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: I am grateful for the remarks of the hon. Lady and the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings, and for their association with my thanks to those staff working in difficult situations. Literacy and numeracy assessments are also made of those entering adult prisons, so both sectors need to learn from each other.

Bill Presented: Clause 47 — Provision of education for persons subject to youth detention (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: Yes, they are consistent, which is why I said that an assessment is made of those entering adult prison. The fact that we are saying that we all want to ensure, in a Bill in 2009, that education is properly applied with respect to young offenders and that it complies with the UN convention on the rights of the child shows that progress is sometimes a bit slower than we would all want. We are...

Bill Presented: Clause 47 — Provision of education for persons subject to youth detention (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: I beg to move, That this House agrees with Lords amendment 43.

Bill Presented: Clause 47 — Provision of education for persons subject to youth detention (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: It is a pleasure to contribute, even at this late stage, to what is an important Bill, and on these important amendments. The provisions in this Bill concerning the education and training of young people in juvenile custody are an important step forward. This Bill ends the disapplication of education law to this group of young people, something which has been called for by the UN Committee on...

Bill Presented: Clause 47 — Provision of education for persons subject to youth detention (11 Nov 2009)

Vernon Coaker: With the leave of the House, I thank the hon. Members for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes) and for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke). As I was trying to say, none of us wants there to be difficulties in prison in educating young people. Admittedly, they are in prison because they have offended, but as everybody points out, one cannot help but be moved when visiting young...

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Land Sales (Schools) (12 Oct 2009) has video

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held centrally. Schools and local authorities do not need the Secretary of State's consent to sell school buildings or land that is not school playing field. However, all proceeds from the disposal of school playing fields have been reinvested in school sports or educational facilities since legislation was introduced, under section 77 of the School Standards...

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Land Sales (Schools) (12 Oct 2009) has video

Vernon Coaker: I would be keen and very happy to drop into my right hon. Friend's constituency in Leicester to see for myself the problem he has outlined. I know that he has been trying for some months to resolve this particular issue. He will know that Leicester grammar school is an independent school, and the Secretary of State and I have no authority to talk to it in respect of the disposal of the land...