Speeches by Phillipson.

“I agree that it is critical, given that many of the challenges that parents report are not simply about what happens in school, but about what happens with things like access to OT support or to speech and language support. All of that is a critical part of what we need to do. It also connects to our Best Start family …”

“We have finite resources, and we have to target our resources in the areas where we face the greatest shortages or where we can make the greatest impact. You will be pleased to hear that the numbers are moving in the right direction on maths teachers in particular—”

“I believe that the current progress 8 structure has hampered progress in subjects that strengthen our economy and our society, including the arts. That is why we will consult on an improved progress 8 measure that recognises the value of those subjects and balances a strong academic core with breadth and student choice…”

“Teaching about democracy and elections goes hand in hand with extending votes to 16, to make sure that young people are engaged positively around this. I stress that schools have to maintain their duties of political impartiality, but of course, schools are an important place where people, through education, can challe…”

“We are investing more through the early years pupil premium, and we have also worked to provide a £75 million grant in 2025-26 to support the sector in this pivotal year, as we secure the successful roll-out of the expansion. We will be able to say more about rates before long, but the amount that we are spending, whic…”

“Financial sustainability is important, but I emphasise that even if that were not a challenge, we would need to make the system better. We can all recognise that outcomes for children with SEND are far away from where we want them to be. How hard parents have to fight for support—that needs to change. There is obviousl…”

“I want to emphasise our thanks to Professor Becky Francis and the panel for their excellent work and what they have brought forward in the review. It gives us really clear direction on making sure that children have a strong academic core running alongside a broad curriculum, to make sure that all our children are real…”

“As I say, today we launched the national conversation on SEND. Over the last year, I have spent a lot of time speaking to parents, carers, teachers, disability rights groups and others. We have had our advisory group—our experts—working with us to support that. We have also established our SEND development group, which…”

“From the evidence we have seen in the taskforce, it was that question of the second person in the household being able to work or to work more. It would make a big difference to the numbers if we were able to support that second potential earner to be in work or to work more. The other big difference we have seen over …”

“Yes, through formative assessment rather than through a statutory national test.”

“Yes. If you will allow me, Chair, I will briefly explain the process, because I think there has been some misunderstanding around the Budget and the OBR’s figures. The OBR set out the position connected to council deficits being accounted for within the Government balance sheet. Alongside that, we published the Treasur…”

“Even though we are one down, we have recruited a few more. But there is more to do, and that also speaks to some of the other challenges that teachers and staff are facing. Behaviour is often raised as a big challenge. Through our new attendance and behaviour hubs we will work with the schools facing some of the greate…”

“They will not be published at a national level. This is not about having a list and a ranking of schools; it is about schools being able to better track and assess the progress of their students in this critical area. We have heard evidence from many experts about the importance of reading and the importance of key sta…”

“As you know, we inherited draft guidance that applied to children and young people in schools. We have been looking very carefully at that, working with stakeholders, and we intend to publish the guidance. I think it was right that we made sure that the guidance aligned with the final recommendations from Dr Hilary Cas…”

“Mobile phones have no place in our schools, and school leaders already have the powers to ban them. Through what you have just said, you have identified that school leaders already have the power to take action in that way.”

“It is not subject-specific; it relates to secondary and special schools.”

“I am Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary. Thank you for the opportunity to update members on the progress that the Department has made since we last met. It has been a busy year for education and for our mission to break the link between background and success. I want to take a moment of the Committee’s time to…”

“We welcome the Committee’s report and work in this area. I want to thank you and Committee members for your valuable recommendations, which we are carefully considering as part of the wider reform that we intend to set out. We are working very closely with parents, carers and others. Just today, we launched our nationa…”

“Making sure that families can access high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and childcare is critical to the work that we are doing across the Department for Education, which is why we have provided over £8 billion in 2025-26 for early years entitlements, which is expected to increase to over £9 billion …”

“No school leader, teacher or anyone in education should face what you have just described—it is completely unacceptable—but school leaders do have the powers to ban phones in schools. Your example demonstrates that they have the powers to do that. We have also seen that it has sometimes been done on a local authority-w…”