Written questions by Hinds.

How many submissions her Department received to the consultation entitled Gender questioning children: draft schools and colleges guidance, open from 19 December 2023 to 12 March 2024.

The public consultation entitled ‘Guidance for Schools and Colleges: Gender Questioning Children’ received over 15,000 responses.The government is clear that it is vitally important that teachers have clear guidance, which is why the department will look carefully at the consultation responses over the autumn before responding formally and setting out the next steps to take the Gender Questioning guidance forward.

If she will make an estimate of the proportion of schools able to fully cover the incremental costs of the recommended pay increase using the funding announced.

The department is providing schools with almost £1.1 billion in 2024/25 through the Core Schools Budget Grant (CSBG) to support them with overall costs. This funding matches what the department has calculated is needed to fully fund, at a national level, the 5.5% teacher pay award and the support staff pay offer in the 2024/25 financial year, after accounting for the overall available headroom in schools’ existing budgets.The department’s judgement of affordability is based on national figures, which equates to the position of an “average” school. The funding system is not designed so that every school gets the same funding increase every year: it is designed so that schools seeing the largest pressures typically attract the largest funding increases. It does not match each individual school’s precise costs, as schools have autonomy over their own spending.

Pursuant to the Answers of 2 August 2024 to Question 1652 on Pupil Numbers and Question 1653 on Further Education: Students, if she will bring forward publication of data on the (a) available capacity in (i) state secondary schools and (ii) school sixth forms and (b) numbers of pupils in independent-sector schools at equivalent ages by parliamentary constituency using current boundaries.

The department publishes annual statistics on the capacity and pupils on roll in schools each spring at the following link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity and on the number of students enrolled in independent schools each summer, at the following link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics. In accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics, statistics publications are pre-announced on the GOV.UK website and can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&organisations%5B%5D=department-for-education&order=updated-newest. Currently, the department has no plans to change this publication schedule. The scheduling ensures that statistics are released as soon as they are ready, while abiding by standards set by the Code of Practice for Statistics, in terms of trustworthiness, quality and value. The Code can be found at the following link: https://code.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/.Where statistics were published prior to the changes in parliamentary constituency boundaries, they will be updated to reflect the new boundaries in the next publication of statistics. This is expected to be in March 2025 for school capacity statistics and in June 2025 for statistics on schools and pupils, including independent schools.It may be useful to note that the data requested is published at school level. This can be combined with information from ‘Get Information About Schools’ (GIAS) to identify parliamentary constituency. GIAS currently reflects the changes made following the general election parliamentary constituency changes and is accessible here: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/. Updates to geographical data are made on a quarterly basis using data published by the Office for National Statistics.

What assessment she has made of trends in the levels of independent-sector schools (a) consulting with staff on the teachers’ pension scheme, (b) leaving the teachers’ pension scheme and (c) pursuing phased withdrawal from the teachers’ pension scheme.

Departmental officials regularly gather data on the number of teachers opting out of participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and discuss this with members of the Scheme Advisory Board, which is made up of employer and member representatives. Due to pension auto-enrolment rules that apply when a maintained school converts to an academy and pension re-enrolment rules requiring teachers to re-submit opt-outs, it is difficult to discern any particular trend. However, officials also monitor the overall participation rate of those eligible to be in the TPS and this has remained consistent in recent years.The department is not usually informed when independent schools consult with staff regarding ongoing participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. However, the scheme administrator does maintain a record of the number of independent schools participating in the scheme, as well as those that choose to leave the scheme either outright or by phased withdrawal. Independent school participation is regularly discussed with members of the Scheme Advisory Board, which is made up of member and employer representatives; such discussions start from the principle that independent schools participate voluntarily and have the right to cease participation if they so choose.The employer contribution rate for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) increased from 23.68% to 28.68% of member salary with effect from 1 April 2024. This followed on from the results of the most recent scheme valuation exercise, which was based on 2020 data. The revised rate will lead to an increase in pension costs for all participating employers roughly equivalent to 5% of their teacher salary costs in the 2024/25 academic year. Work has not been undertaken to estimate an average cost increase across the independent school sector because this was needed to reflect the estimated costs of pension benefits that have been accrued by members of the TPS, and those benefits that are forecast to be accrued in future. Independent schools have the option to cease participation in the scheme, either outright or through phased withdrawal, if they do not consider they can meet the costs or otherwise no longer wish to continue participation.

What proportion of state school sixth forms are (a) at and (b) over capacity in (i) City of Bristol, (ii) Camden, (iii) Haringey, (iv) Kingston upon Thames, (v) Richmond upon Thames, (vi) Southwark, (vii) Stockport and (viii) Surrey.

Information on state-funded school places as at May 2023 is published at local authority level in the annual School Capacity statistics publication, which can be found at the following link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity. School level data for sixth form capacity and number on roll is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/ee325991-147a-4e4d-ba55-8dd5fdc8d160. This can be used to identify schools at, or over, capacity, and then the proportion of schools within a local authority can be calculated.The number of sixth form pupils on roll is higher than the reported capacity in: (i) five of the ten school sixth forms in the City of Bristol (50%), (ii) all ten of the school sixth forms in Camden (100%), (iii) three of the six school sixth forms in Haringey (50%), (iv) four of the ten school sixth forms in Kingston upon Thames (40%), (v) five of the ten school sixth forms in Richmond upon Thames (50%), (vi) six of the 15 school sixth forms in Southwark (40%), (vii) the only school sixth form in Stockport (100%) and (viii) 11 of the 28 school sixth forms in Surrey (39%).School sixth forms often have higher numbers on roll than reported capacity, due to the subjects offered and timetabling.

What estimate she has made of the average cost to independent schools of the increase in employer contributions to the teachers' pension scheme in the academic year 2024-25.

Departmental officials regularly gather data on the number of teachers opting out of participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and discuss this with members of the Scheme Advisory Board, which is made up of employer and member representatives. Due to pension auto-enrolment rules that apply when a maintained school converts to an academy and pension re-enrolment rules requiring teachers to re-submit opt-outs, it is difficult to discern any particular trend. However, officials also monitor the overall participation rate of those eligible to be in the TPS and this has remained consistent in recent years.The department is not usually informed when independent schools consult with staff regarding ongoing participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. However, the scheme administrator does maintain a record of the number of independent schools participating in the scheme, as well as those that choose to leave the scheme either outright or by phased withdrawal. Independent school participation is regularly discussed with members of the Scheme Advisory Board, which is made up of member and employer representatives; such discussions start from the principle that independent schools participate voluntarily and have the right to cease participation if they so choose.The employer contribution rate for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) increased from 23.68% to 28.68% of member salary with effect from 1 April 2024. This followed on from the results of the most recent scheme valuation exercise, which was based on 2020 data. The revised rate will lead to an increase in pension costs for all participating employers roughly equivalent to 5% of their teacher salary costs in the 2024/25 academic year. Work has not been undertaken to estimate an average cost increase across the independent school sector because this was needed to reflect the estimated costs of pension benefits that have been accrued by members of the TPS, and those benefits that are forecast to be accrued in future. Independent schools have the option to cease participation in the scheme, either outright or through phased withdrawal, if they do not consider they can meet the costs or otherwise no longer wish to continue participation.

How many (a) pupils, (b) Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils and (c) 16-18 year-old pupils (i) were enrolled in state schools in September 2023 and (ii) are projected to be enrolled in state schools in September 2030.

The department publishes statistics on the number of pupils at schools in England based on January school census data. Figures for January 2024 are available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics.As of January 2024, 8,498,587 pupils of all ages were enrolled at state-funded schools in England, of which 3,248,903 were in Key Stage 3 or 4 and 451,638 were in Key Stage 5, which corresponds to post-16 education.A table showing the figures by school type can be viewed via this link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/de8d81d9-1e57-408a-9fad-08dcca50353d.The most recent pupil projections, which provide the projected number of full-time equivalent pupils in schools in England, by type of school and age to secondary school, are published here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/national-pupil-projections.Due to the uncertainty in longer term fertility assumptions, pupil projections in this release are published up to 2028, rather than up to 2032 as was the case in previous years.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed application of VAT to private school fees on state secondary planning areas.

This government is committed to ending the VAT exemption on private schools. While the impact of this policy is being fully considered, research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies indicates that the number of pupils who may switch schools as a result of these changes is likely to represent a very small proportion of overall pupil numbers in the state sector, with any displacement expected to take place over several years. This research can be found here: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/tax-private-school-fees-and-state-school-spending. Details of the government’s own assessment of the expected impact will be published at the Budget in the usual way, following scrutiny by the Office for Budget Responsibility. The department cannot be certain of the precise level, if any, of transfer from private to state sectors additional to the movements between schools, and between the private and state sectors, which happen each year in all parts of the country. The department will be monitoring demand and capacity using our normal processes and working with local authorities to meet any pressures.

What discussions she has had with the local authorities in (a) City of Bristol, (b) Camden, (c) Haringey, (d) Kingston upon Thames, (e) Richmond upon Thames, (f) Southwark, (g) Stockport and (h) Surrey on capital funding for additional state school sixth form places above those planned before July 2024.

Local authorities have broad duties to encourage, enable and assist young people to participate in education or training. This includes a duty to secure enough suitable education and training provision to meet the reasonable needs of all young people in their area who are over compulsory school age but under 19 or aged 19 or over and for whom an education, health and care plan is maintained. As regards sixth form places, if approached by a local authority, the department will discuss options with them to support them to meet their statutory duties. The post-16 capacity fund provides funding to schools and colleges, including in Stockport and Surrey, to ensure there is enough capital capacity in schools and colleges to accommodate the demographic increases in 16 to 19 learners. It has made available £238 million in capital funding since 2021.

Whether she has had discussions with (a) City of Bristol, (b) Kingston upon Thames, (c) Richmond upon Thames, (d) Salford and (e) Surrey local authorities on capital funding for additional secondary school places at key stages 3 and 4.

The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places sits with local authorities. The department engages with local authorities, including those mentioned, on a regular basis to review their plans for creating additional primary and pre-16 secondary school places and to consider alternatives where necessary. When local authorities are experiencing difficulties, the department offers support and advice. The department provides capital funding through the basic need grant to support local authorities to provide mainstream school places needed for year groups from reception to year 11, based on their own pupil forecasts and school capacity data. Nearly £1.5 billion of allocations have been confirmed to support local authorities to create school places needed over the current and next two academic years. Local authorities’ allocations are published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-need-allocations.

How many unfilled places there are at state school sixth forms in (a) City of Bristol, (b) Camden, (c) Haringey, (d) Kingston upon Thames, (e) Richmond upon Thames, (f) Southwark, (g) Stockport and (h) Surrey; and how many pupils of that age there are in independent schools in each of those areas.

Information on state-funded school places as at May 2023 is published at local authority level in the annual School Capacity survey. This survey can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity. The capacity of state-funded school sixth forms and the number of students on roll in these sixth forms for these local authorities, which can be used to calculate unfilled places, is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/1df04bec-f3ec-4b8a-9fb7-08dcca50353d. Data is collected from independent schools through the school level annual school census. This data does not include phase but does include age of pupils. This information is published in the ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ publication, which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics. Information on the number of students aged 16 to 19 enrolled in independent schools in January 2024 for these local authorities can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/d0df582b-2601-4fd8-cf33-08dcca5019b8. However, please note that age does not necessarily directly align to state-funded sector primary, secondary and post-16 schools.

What proportion of secondary schools are (a) at and (b) over capacity at key stages 3 and 4 in (i) City of Bristol, (ii) Kingston upon Thames, (iii) Richmond upon Thames, (iv) Salford and (v) Surrey.

Information on state-funded school places as at May 2023 is published at local authority level in the annual School Capacity statistics publication, which is available at the following link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity.The number and proportion of secondary schools at or over capacity for the requested local authorities can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/91c62513-ae0a-4c08-9fa3-08dcca50353d.This includes sixth forms as well as key stages 3 and 4 for schools with sixth forms. Data are not available by year group or key stage.

What assessment she has made of trends in the levels of in-service teachers opting out of the teachers’ pension scheme.

Departmental officials regularly gather data on the number of teachers opting out of participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and discuss this with members of the Scheme Advisory Board, which is made up of employer and member representatives. Due to pension auto-enrolment rules that apply when a maintained school converts to an academy and pension re-enrolment rules requiring teachers to re-submit opt-outs, it is difficult to discern any particular trend. However, officials also monitor the overall participation rate of those eligible to be in the TPS and this has remained consistent in recent years.The department is not usually informed when independent schools consult with staff regarding ongoing participation in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. However, the scheme administrator does maintain a record of the number of independent schools participating in the scheme, as well as those that choose to leave the scheme either outright or by phased withdrawal. Independent school participation is regularly discussed with members of the Scheme Advisory Board, which is made up of member and employer representatives; such discussions start from the principle that independent schools participate voluntarily and have the right to cease participation if they so choose.The employer contribution rate for the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) increased from 23.68% to 28.68% of member salary with effect from 1 April 2024. This followed on from the results of the most recent scheme valuation exercise, which was based on 2020 data. The revised rate will lead to an increase in pension costs for all participating employers roughly equivalent to 5% of their teacher salary costs in the 2024/25 academic year. Work has not been undertaken to estimate an average cost increase across the independent school sector because this was needed to reflect the estimated costs of pension benefits that have been accrued by members of the TPS, and those benefits that are forecast to be accrued in future. Independent schools have the option to cease participation in the scheme, either outright or through phased withdrawal, if they do not consider they can meet the costs or otherwise no longer wish to continue participation.

Whether she plans to amend the budget of the Music and Dance Scheme after January 2025.

The government is committed to supporting specialist education in the creative sector, including the Music and Dance Scheme (MDS). This remains an important programme for giving opportunities for young people, allowing them access to specialist training and a pathway into the creative industries. All the education providers on the scheme have been issued with grant funding agreements for the 2024/25 academic year and the final budget is set on the basis of the number of places that are filled and the relevant household income of parents or carers. The department is engaging with the eight providers that are private schools and are therefore subject to the VAT changes planned for January 2025. All the schools have also been made aware of the HM Treasury technical consultation which is open to 15 September, and they will be informed of the outcome of the consultation later this year. The government is committed to extending opportunities for children and young people in the arts through a broader curriculum, ensuring all pupils in state-funded schools can access creative subjects such as music, alongside subjects such as maths and English. Around 93% of school children in the UK attend state schools and ending the tax breaks on VAT, and business rates, for private schools is a tough but necessary decision that will secure additional funding to help deliver the government’s commitments relating to education and young people.

How many unfilled places there are at key stages 3 and 4 in state schools in (a) City of Bristol, (b) Kingston upon Thames, (c) Richmond upon Thames, (d) Salford and (e) Surrey; and how many pupils of those ages there are in independent schools in each of those areas.

Information on state-funded school places as at May 2023 is published at local authority level in the annual School Capacity statistics publication which can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity.The total number of secondary unfilled places in these local authorities can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/94cbcc62-9d1a-4ab1-cf21-08dcca5019b8.This includes sixth forms as well as key stages 3 and 4 for schools with sixth forms. Data are not available by year group or key stage.Data is collected from independent schools through the school level annual school census; this does not include phase but does include age of pupils. This information is published in the 'Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ publication at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics.Information on the number of pupils aged 11 to 15 enrolled in independent schools in January 2024 for these local authorities can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/67d55589-96d7-4445-9fa8-08dcca50353d.However, please note that age does not necessarily directly align to state-funded sector primary, secondary and post-16 schools.

If she will make an estimate of the number of independent schools which charge lower fees than the average annual cost of provision in the state sector.

On a per pupil basis the total funding allocated to schools for 5 to 16 year old pupils, in cash terms, in the 2024/25 academic year, was £7,690. While the department does not hold data on private school fees, the Institute for Fiscal Studies calculates average private school fees across the UK were £15,200 in the 2022/23 academic year. This is around 90% higher than state school spending per pupil. This information can be found at: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/tax-private-school-fees-and-state-school-spending.

What her policy is on the future of the Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs programme.

The department is committed to ensuring that every child in an early years setting receives high quality education and care. Evidence shows that this has a positive impact on outcomes in both the short and long term, particularly for the most disadvantaged children. The Stronger Practice Hubs Programme launched in 2022 to address the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the youngest children, with a focus on the most disadvantaged areas. The Hubs support early years settings and childminders by sharing effective practice, learning from the best available evidence, and building lasting local networks. The department is pleased to confirm that the Stronger Practice Hubs programme will be extended until 31 March 2025.

Whether she has set aside capital funding for the provision of potential additional places in state schools in the event they are required as a result of pupils moving from the independent sector to the state sector.

Education is at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity so every child gets the best start in life. Ending tax breaks on private schools will help raise revenue to drive forward the change this government is committed to deliver. The department is supporting HM Treasury, which will deliver the tax changes. Further details were published by the government on 29 July 2024 and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. The department collects pupil forecasts and school capacity data from local authorities annually through the School Capacity survey. This data shows that, in May 2023, 11.7% of primary capacity and 11.5% of secondary capacity was unfilled nationally, meaning school places are available in many parts of the country.

What underspends are projected in (a) her Department and (b) each of its arms length bodies in (i) this financial year and (ii) the Spending Review period.

As my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out in her statement on July 29, the government’s spending audit has identified a forecast Resource Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) overspend of £21.9 billion against the plans set out for departments at Spring Budget 2024. This already factors in the Treasury’s assessment of a £7.1 billion fallaway over the course of the year, as set out in Table 1 of ‘Fixing the foundations: public spending audit 2024-25’. The government has announced £5.5 billion of savings in the 2024/25 financial year, bringing the in-year pressures down to £16.4 billion.

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on potential workforce participation effects of the availability of (a) year-round and (b) term-time only childcare provision.

Ensuring that parents are able to access affordable and high-quality childcare is a priority for this government. This means ensuring that a variety of different types of provision are available, including year-round and term-time only, that suit the needs of different parents. Regular discussions are held with Cabinet colleagues on how this government can deliver these priorities, including through our work on our mission to break down opportunities for every child.